Mizoram sweats it out at over 33 degrees, environmentalists say state’s temperature rose max in 15 years

The state has become warmer by at least 2.75 degree Celsius in the past 15 years against the average global surface temperature of 0.6 degree Celsius to 2.5 degree Celsius

Reported by Isaac Zoramsanga

Even as Mizoram too continues to reel under extreme heat conditions and sweats it out at over 33 degrees Celsius, environmentalists and weather scientists of the state have more bad news. They have pressed the panic button and raised red flags as far as the climate of this northeastern hill state is concerned.

Sources at the state’s science and technology department have said that the state has become warmer by at least 2.75 degree Celsius in the past 15 years against the average global surface temperature of 0.6 degree Celsius to 2.5 degree Celsius.

Environmentalists expressed the fear that at the present rate of global warming in Mizoram, it will not be long before the state would have to bid goodbye to the moderate climate which the state has been bestowed with and the people of the state have been enjoying for ages.
“The present rate at which Aizawl’s temperature is climbing the scale is even higher than the estimated minimum rate of global warming for the next 50 years,’’ officials said.

This should definitely send the alarm bells ringing in the government corridors.

The environmentalists have attributed the rapid change in climate in the hill state to rapid deforestation mainly due to the slash-and-burn cultivation. They also said that the ecological imbalance is being caused by unplanned urbanisation, rather than the green-house effect, which generally is the main cause in the rest of the world.

When the mercury soared to over 32 degrees Celsius in Aizawl during the last few days, it was regarded as extremely hot for the hill city, known for its moderate climate.

The warmest day for the state was on April 13, 2017, when the mercury soared to 36.5 degree Celsius. This year’s maximum temperature was recorded on Sunday (April 16) when Mercury rose to 33.

Though the maximum temperature dipped to 32 degree Celsius on Monday, it again rose to 33 on Tuesday and Wednesday with minimum temperature of 25 degree Celsius, regarded as extremely high.

Majority of the people chose to stay indoors as warning of ultra violet rays and the chances of being dehydrated did the rounds in the social media. Ice creams, watermelons and cold drinks are selling like hot cakes in Aizawl, and people are thronging picnic spots, jumping into swimming pools to beat the heat.

State Meteorological Centre officials said that for Mizoram, April used to be the hottest month every year and the heat continued to increase every year. Detailed knowledge on climatic changes in Aizawl requires a proper meteorological observatory which the state is still lacking, officials said.

While south Mizoram’s Lawngtlai district administration changed the school hour from 9 AM – 3 PM to 6AM – 9 AM, the state school education department is yet to make any changes till date.

The school education department, however, issued instructions to school authorities not to engage the students in outdoor activities and provide sufficient drinking water.

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