Steep drop in mercury levels at various places across Andhra Pradesh during the last few weeks has caused concern among the public as the change in weather has its impact on a section of people.
Senior citizens and children are affected by cough, cold and fevers as a result of the extreme cold weather conditions. Youngsters and fun-loving tourists are, however, chilling out. Lack of accommodation and biting cold is giving nightmares to elderly tourists.
Intense cold conditions are prevailing in Visakhapatnam city, the Agency areas of the district and isolated places in the State. Lammasingi, also known as Lambasingi, in the hilly areas of the district, recorded zero degree Celsius, after a gap of nearly seven years, on Dec 31, 2018.
Warm clothing are being worn 24/7 by local people and tourists alike. The sun is visible only around 11 a.m. every day. Bonfires are lit at various places and people gather around them to keep themselves warm. Motorists are forced to switch on their headlights all through the day to avoid accidents and two-wheeler riders have to wear gloves apart from sweaters.
"It is taking room heaters nearly 30 minutes to attain normal room temperature due to the severe cold. Our palms are turning stiff and skin is drying up, resulting in itching sensation. We are using gloves and socks to keep ourselves warm," says Devullu Pachari, who travels extensively in the tribal villages, as part of his work as secretary of Sanjeevini, an NGO.
Cold surges
"Cold wave conditions are experienced when the Siberian cold surges stay for long. This winter in Andhra Pradesh as also across India, we have high pressure in the atmosphere, resulting in the cold surges getting trapped in the mid as well as lower troposphere," says OSRU Bhanu Kumar, an emeritus Professor in the Department of Meteorology and Oceanography, Andhra University.
"When there are no cold surges, the sea surface temperatures will be high and the impact of cold will be less. On the positive side, cold winter is beneficial to retain precipitation storage of water resources and improvement of fresh water storage. In Visakhapatnam and other coastal areas, the cold wave conditions are the result of combined effect of reduction in humidity and increased cold surges," Prof. Kumar added.
"The Tajangi reservoir, the strawberry farm, the clouds passing above the ground and the fog are ‘breathtaking’. We had fun clicking photographs and taking videos," said Saketh Susarla, a software engineer from Pune, who along with two other friends, went on motorcycles from Vizag to Lambasingi via Narsipatnam on December 30.
Saketh’s pleasant trip was marred by the awful sight of empty liquor bottles, plastic wastes and garbage thrown by tourists and visitors. Calling for a greater sense of responsibility among tourists on the issue, he says: "Plastic ban is strictly enforced at tourist places in Maharashtra. We can take a cue from them and implement the same here."
Accommodation
"Local people are giving rooms and tents on hire to tourists. A tent for four can be hired for ₹2,000 a night and a tent for eight members can be had for ₹3,000. Wash rooms are provided separately. We did not come across any rooms provided by the Tourism Department," said Adari Chalapathi Rajesh Kumar of Sai Nagar, Marripalem, in the city, who also went on motorcycles along with three other friends.
"We trekked up the hill at Lambasingi and were overwhelmed by the scenic beauty of the hills and valleys from the top. Later, we drove to Kothapalli waterfalls, about 35 km from Lambasingi, and from there to Paderu. After a visit to the famous temple of Goddess Moda Kondamma, we returned to the city via Chodavaram," he said.
"Temperatures have come down all over the world and excessive snowing has occurred in the Himalayan region and in North East India. The Siberian High is also strong this year, which has contributed to the dip in temperatures," said S.V.S.S. Ramakrishna, a professor in the Department of Meteorology and Oceanography, AU.
"Cold dry winds from central parts of India along with moderate winds from the Bay of Bengal, due to the severe cyclonic storm Phethai, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on December 17, caused chilly weather over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana," says P.V. Rama Rao, a retired Director of the IMD.
Meanwhile, the cottages being constructed by AP Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC), are yet to be opened adding to the woes of tourists. "Four temporary cottages are ready and a trial is being finalised. Lack of a kitchen has delayed the opening of these cottages," Tourism Regional Director Radhakrishna Murthy said.
