Heat effect

Heat effect

The summer is here and it’s fiercer than ever. The sun, shining at its strongest best at this time of the year, leaves one exhausted and dehydrated.  Not long ago, when Bangalore was famous for its greenery, even the summers used to be quite pleasant.

Not anymore though! The number of trees cut for developmental work, the green cover gradually being replaced by concrete and the smoke exhaled by the increasing vehicles, have increased the temperature of the City beyond limits.

Metrolife speaks to a few people to find out what do they think of this summer.
Harish Alwar, an IT professional, feels that Bangalore’s weather has changed a lot in the recent times.

“It’s become hotter and there can be many reasons for this like increasing pollution and global warming,” he says. Personally, he tries to stay indoors as much as possible.

“Whenever I am out, I ensure that I cover myself as much as possible. It’s always better to feel hot rather than be affected by sunburn,” he adds.

Rishil Savani, an associate system engineer at IBM, hails from Mumbai and finds Bangalore’s summer to be worse than that of Mumbai.

“At least in Mumbai, the weather is humid. So you end up sweating a lot and this cools down your body. But here, the dry heat just leaves you uncomfortable. So I prefer to stay indoors as that’s the only way out.”

Meenakshi, an education specialist at Cisco, recalls her childhood when Bangalore used to be green and cool. “There were so many trees — there was a tree in almost every house. So even while standing at a bus stop or on the road, one could never feel the heat as the trees were always there to provide shade. One could even walk at 12 in the afternoon as it used to be so pleasant,” she says. But now, things have changed for the worse.

“So many trees have been cut and it’s just so hot that you end up feeling parched and giddy,” she adds.

Speaking of the difference in temperature at different times of the day, she says, “It’s cold in the mornings, hot during the day and cold in the evenings. That’s why one tends to fall sick.”

And of course the best way to stay fit and fine is by eating healthy and cooling food. Dr Devi, a family physician in Indiranagar, has a few tips to offer.

 “The most important thing is to drink lots of water and avoid going out in the sun,” she says.

“Also avoid spicy food as spices increase the heat in the body. Instead go for fresh fruits, tender coconut water and fruit juices as they cool your body.” Summer also comes with its share of wind and raises a lot of dust. “This leads to allergies, cold and blocked nose,” explains the doctor. “And wear light cotton clothes instead of synthetic,” she advises.