Kanpur Nagar sizzled at a scorching 41.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday Kanpur: Kanpur Nagar sizzled at a scorching 41.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, pushing the city into the grip of heatwave-like conditions. With the mercury soaring, residents scrambled for cover and turned to precautionary measures to ward off heat-related illnesses.According to official data, the Air Force meteorological station at Chakeri recorded 41.4°C, while the Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology (CSA) weather observatory reported a slightly lower temperature of 40°C. A day earlier, temperatures stood at 40°C (Air Force) and 39°C (CSA).The IMD had earlier predicted a steady rise in temperatures across the Kanpur division between April 17 and 24. The forecast indicates further increase in daytime temperatures under clear, sunny conditions. While partial cloud cover is expected during nighttime, it may lead to higher minimum temperatures. Strong, hot winds resembling heatwave conditions arealso likely to prevail during the day.The searing heat has upended daily life in the city. Residents stepped out at dawn, with most rushing to finish errands before 10 am. Markets that usually open around 11 am pulled up their shutters early, between 10 and 10:30 am. During peak afternoon hours, busy roads and major commercial hubs wore a deserted look. Elderly residents heading out for essential work shielded themselves with umbrellas and draped scarves or towels over their faces. Schoolchildren bore the worst of the blistering conditions.S Sunil Pandey, weather expert at CSA University, said the IMD had already flagged a steady climb in temperatures. “Though intermittent cloud patches may appear, there’s no chance of rain. Weakening winds from the Himalayan region and hot westerly winds sweeping in from desert tracts are pushing up the mercury and creating heatwave-like conditions,” he explained. He added that maximum relative humidity plunged to 51 per cent, amplifying the heat’s impact.
