Residents rue rising Shillong temperature

A maximum temperature at around 28 degrees is too hot for hill station Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya that stands at an altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496m) above sea level, and is known to be a destination providing “plenty of natural air conditioning”.

By Rining Lyngdoh

Shillong, April 11: A maximum temperature at around 28 degrees is too hot for hill station Shillong, the state capital of Meghalaya that stands at an altitude of 4,908 feet (1,496m) above sea level, and is known to be a destination providing “plenty of natural air conditioning”.

While people have lost lives in some parts of the country as the heat wave swept eastern and central India leading to temperatures rising over 40 degrees Celsius, Shillong is slowly feeling the same over the years. Thanks to climate change.

After experiencing cold weather coupled with thundersqualls and rain a week ago, the temperature has suddenly risen in Shillong in the past few days.

Last week, squalls and rain hit the city and other places damaging several houses and crops.

Shillong has always been considered a suitable destination for tourists during spring and summer. This is because one can feel the presence of natural air conditioning unlike in other parts of the country where people have to rely on an electric fan or air conditioner to cool themselves from the burning heat.

But Shillong’s weather is no longer like it was in the past, in view of climate change, which has led to global warming across the globe.

Shillong is just 10km from Shillong Peak, which is the highest point at 6,449 feet (1,966m) above sea level.

The city has never experienced temperatures over 30 degrees, except 43 years ago.

The kind of heat felt in the city today made many feel that the temperature might have touched 30 degrees Celsius. Students and elders alike used their umbrellas to shield themselves from the heat, while children opted for ice creams to cool themselves. The wind helped pedestrians cool down a bit.

An official in the Indian Meteorological Department here, told The Telegraph that the maximum temperature recorded in the city today was 28.1 degrees Celsius.

“Shillong has never experienced temperatures beyond 30 degrees Celsius, except in 1973. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was in April 1973, at 30.2 degrees Celsius,” an official said.

The official said the second highest temperature was 29.7 degrees Celsius, recorded in June 1999 followed by 29.5 degrees Celsius in May 1979 and April 2014 and 28.7 degrees Celsius in April 2014.

Sources said in the last one week the temperature in Shillong has risen from 24.5 degrees Celsius on April 6 to 27.9 degrees Celsius on April 10.

The sources observed that the temperature of Shillong might increase further in the coming days if the city receives no rain.