“Because all of the things that I have spoken about, consistently from the very beginning, have been fundamentally based on science. Alternative roof cooling solutions are available in an NDMA guidebook on minimising heat island effects.“A lot of what you’re seeing as attacks on me, quite frankly, are attacks on science.” That is Dr. Solar radiation, striking a surface, is either reflected, absorbed, or transmitted. But there are techniques available to keep homes cool. Roof contributes up to 70 percent of the heat gain of a building during high temperatures. Concrete buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb the sun’s heat and multiply its effect by re-emitting it. Compared to natural landscapes, urban areas are experiencing higher temperatures than outlying areas because of the “heat island” effect. Traditionally, people faced the heat wave days by covering their heads with a wet towel.Īam Panna sherbets made of boiled raw mangoes’ pulp is a favourite even today. Heat exhaustion leads to fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, and sweating. They are causing dehydration, heat cramps, exhaustion or heat stroke. It’s known now that intense heat waves are becoming frequent because of global climate change.
C higher temperature will make it a severe heat wave. If the normal temperature for a location is 40 deg. The Met Department criteria are that a heat wave need not be considered till the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 deg. The NDMA says the heat waves occur between March and June, and in some rare cases even extend till July. Going by the official position, this was not unusual. They have been too frequent this year and started in March itself. One is often worried about heat waves these days. Today, there are constant advisories in the media, based on studies by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). In the Fifties and the Sixties, all tips to avoid a sun-stroke came from grandparents. Today, there are parks or green strips of land in most colonies, where one can go for a morning walk or do yoga. Still, the 40-plus degree Centigrade temperature gives a shiver to most people today.ĭelhi’ites went through the oppressive summers when there was no Buddha Jayanti Park, Nehru Park, or the Central Park in Connaught Place. Malls are absolutely cool and offices comfortable. Not just homes buses, Metro, and cabs are all air-conditioned. It is a different matter there is no dearth of means to fight the tyrannies of summer now. Surprisingly, the present times, too, are considered difficult. Children chased the water tankers till they stopped at any place. Otherwise, one could not take a bath, or wash clothes, people recall. It was no small horror if one learnt there was no ice available in the local markets.Ī worse event could be the suspension of ice factories’ licenses to save water for public use! The ugliest thing to happen in summers was power cuts, accompanied by suspension of water supply for “routine repairs.” Even in most posh colonies, men and women had to walk down to municipal water tankers to fill up a few buckets of water. Summers were bad if one couldn’t afford to travel out of town or failed to get any confirmed bookings. Summers were good because one could make a quick trip to Shimla or Nainital.Įven a short holiday in Kashmir or other hills was enjoyable.
There is a tendency to recall the experiences in all their hues – the good, the bad, and the ugly. People are particularly remembering times when there were no air conditioners, and fridges were rare. It has become common to share how people lived through their summers in the Sixties, or later. Met Department reports are read carefully. They are checking on dates when they had it so bad, last. Certainly, Delhi’ites are recalling history. There is no one people can complain about. C on Sundays or working days, they are all accepted. But it cannot do anything about the heat. It can shout over a cut in the water supply. Delhi is suffering one of its worst summers.