Chennai sizzled on Friday as mercury touched 41 degree Celsius, making it the hottest day of the year yet and giving the residents a taste of what could be in store for them the rest of the summer. Records indicate that it is after a decade that the temperature has risen this high.
Officials from the Meteorological department said that the Nungambakkam station recorded a high of 40.8 degree Celsius and Meenambakkam recorded 41.8 degree Celsius.
S. Balachandran, Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, India Meteorological Department attributed the increase in temperatures in the northern parts of the state to dry winds from the west.
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"On Thursday, temperatures went up to 35.5 degree Celsius and rose to 40 degree Celsius on Friday. We had expected the temperatures to rise by 2 to 3 degrees or so. For the next four days, the city will have hot weather with high temperatures," he said.
Social media saw frenzied updates about the weather in the city. Most residents said the day had been uncomfortably hot.
“A short two-wheeler ride to my office in the afternoon has left me with burning eyes and a feeling of being dehydrated,” said K. Janani, a software engineer from the city.
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Heat ailments affect children
City doctors say there is more awareness now about the effects of the heat and that residents are being careful on venturing outdoors. Children, however, seem to be affected with paediatricians saying they have had a number of cases in the last week or so.
“We get at least five or six cases of children with heat-related ailments every day, including rashes and boils, dehydration, fever, viral infections and urinary tract infections. We’ve also seen a lot of cases of chicken pox,” said Padma Appaji, consultant paediatrician, Vijaya Group of Hospitals.
At Kanchi Kamakoti Childs Trust Hospital, there were at least 50 such cases in the last week, said Janani Shankar, senior consultant paediatrician. “Heat exhaustion, a rise in body temperature due to the heat, seizures and cystitis are common. Even dehydration can lead to an increase in temperature, so parents must ensure children are well hydrated,” she said.
A few days ago, senior geriatrician V.S. Natarajan received a case of a man over 75 years old, brought in by his family, disoriented.
“He had started vomiting in the morning. I sent them to a hospital for a saline drip. Senior citizens must avoid going out between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wear sunglasses and a cap and loose cottons when going out. Add salt to juices and eat a lot of fruit,” said Dr. Natarajan.
Decade high
*Records indicate that it is after 2006 that the temperature in the city has touched 41 degree, in April.
*Nungambakkam recorded a maximum temperature of 42.1 degree Celsius on April 30, 2006, which was the highest temperature in a decade. On April 27 and 28 the same year, Nungambakkam recorded temperatures of 40.7 degree Celsius and 40.6 degree Celsius respectively.
*In Meenambakkam, the highest recorded that year was on April 28 when the temperature soared to 42.2 degree Celsius.
*Over the last few years, while the temperature has touched 40 degrees Celsius only twice, the average temperature in April has always hovered just below 40 degrees.