At 40.6 degrees Celsius, mercury makes life difficult in sweltering swachh city

Indore: City is witnessing a sharp escalation in summer conditions, with temperature nearing 41 degree Celsius and making daily life difficult. On Friday, the city recorded a maximum of 40.6 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 22.7 degrees Celsius, both above normal. The rise has been rapid, with nearly 8 degree Celsius added to day temperature over the past eight days.The heat sets in early. By 8:30 am, the temperature had already reached 29.6 degrees Celsius. Brief spells of partly cloudy skies offered little relief, as hot winds and strong sunlight kept conditions oppressive through the day. Even by 5:30 pm, the temperature remained high at 38.4 degrees Celsius. Residents report that the heat continues into the night, leaving little time for recovery.The strain is visible across the city. Markets thin out in the afternoon and those working outdoors continue under difficult conditions. "There is no real break from the heat anymore, even evenings feel heavy," said a street vendor near Vijay Nagar.Hospitals are reporting a noticeable increase in heatstroke cases. Cases of heat stroke, dehydration, vomiting and fatigue have risen in recent days.Doctors say common symptoms include dizziness, headache, extreme tiredness and in severe cases, fainting. Children, elderly people and those exposed to direct sun for long hours remain most at risk.Met department has issued a heatwave alert for several districts, warning that temperature may reach 42 to 43 degree Celsius, over the next few days. Dry weather systems and hot winds continue to push temperature upward. While some cloud activity and light rain are expected around April 19–20 in nearby regions, any relief is likely to be limited.The outlook suggests a further rise of around 2 degrees Celsius in the next 48 hours. While some clouding and distant rainfall activity is expected in parts of the region after April 20, any relief in Indore is likely to be brief. For now, the city continues to endure a steady build-up of heat with little respite in sight.