BENGALURU: Erratic pre-monsoon rains may have cooled districts surrounding Bengaluru, with the city’s temperature dropping by a degree in a day. However, the northern and central parts of the state continue to blaze in the summer heat, even recording a one-degree increase in 24 hours on Thursday.
Temperature Variations Across Karnataka
After the hail and downpour on Wednesday evening, which tapered into nearby districts within hours, Bengaluru city recorded 37.7 degrees Celsius as its highest temperature on Friday. In contrast, Kalaburagi recorded a sweltering 44.7 degrees Celsius. Kalagi in Kalaburagi was recorded as the hottest on Thursday. Several taluks in Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Yadgir were under alert for exceeding 42 degrees. Besides these, several taluks in Ballari, Belagavi, Davanagere, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal, Vijayanagara, and Vijayapura were still reeling under temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.
Impact of Pre-Monsoon Showers
Meanwhile, the rains in Bengaluru — the downpour and hailstorm — tapered into nearby districts by 7:30 pm, according to experts from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC). Director M S Divakara, speaking to TOI, called these erratic downpours a part of pre-monsoon showers that do not impact water storage in ponds and lakes but are sufficient to cool temperatures. “Bengaluru, on the day of the rain and hailstorm, witnessed a dip of 15 degrees Celsius,” he added.
Heatwave Fatalities and Cases
Fatalities from heatwave so far include Hallikar oxen in Maddur, Mandya on April 28, and two pet dogs in Mysuru city on April 25 and 26, as per the Animal Husbandry Department. Suspected heat stroke cases till April 26 include: Ballari 1, Tumakuru 1, Bengaluru Rural 2, Bengaluru Urban 1, Koppal 1, and Vijayanagar 1, according to the Health Department.
Health Department Response
Other departments are still on the lookout for heatwave cases, largely in the north interior Karnataka region. Health Commissioner Gurudatta Hegde told TOI, “A lot of patients are coming in with mild symptoms of heatwave, largely in north Karnataka, and these are generally not recorded. However, 10 critical cases linked to heatwave have been reported so far. We were able to handle them. Raichur had a severe case reported on Wednesday, and we are monitoring it. We have issued heatwave advisories to handle the situation in different regions,” he said.
Animal Husbandry Vigilance
Shilpa Nag C T, Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, also admitted to greater vigilance in the north interior parts. “At present, across the state, we are running the ninth round of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination and have asked ground staff to ensure they go out only before 9 am and after sunset — both to reduce stress on them and the animals.”
Rainfall Forecast
Rains are predicted to continue in south interior Karnataka till May 1. Between April 29 and 30, South Interior Karnataka received an average of 4 mm rainfall, with the highest recorded in Bengaluru at 13.6 mm. North Interior Karnataka recorded 0.4 mm, with the highest in Belagavi at 1.7 mm. Malnad received 1.2 mm, with the highest in Hassan at 3.2 mm. Coastal Karnataka received 0.1 mm.
