Ahmedabad: With Oct heat refusing to relent, garba organisers in Ahmedabad have turned to desert coolers and fans to help revellers beat the sweltering conditions. As temperatures continue to hover above 38°C despite it being mid-Oct participants have been advised to take regular breaks and stay hydrated during the festivities.The unseasonal heat has made evenings at garba grounds more challenging, with the city experiencing four consecutive days of maximum temperatures above 38°C.Chetan Shah, president of Karnavati Club, said additional coolers had been installed near the ground from Thursday. “We have also asked the revellers to take regular breaks near the seating areas keeping in mind the elevated temperatures this year,” he said.Pratik Amin, organiser of a garba venue on SP Ring Road, said such measures were not usually needed during Navratri as the weather generally cools down by this time. “But this year, we have installed eight coolers in the waiting and entrance areas for the revellers to cool down after rounds of garba in the ground. We have also asked the participants to take regular breaks and remain hydrated,” he said.
October heat Graphic
The heat is not limited to the garba grounds. Ahmedabad recorded a maximum temperature of 38.1°C on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day of temperatures above 38°C. The mercury touched 38.5°C on Tuesday, 38.2°C on Wednesday and 38.1°C on Thursday. Minimum temperatures during the four days stood at 23.1°C, 24.7°C, 26.6°C and 26°C, respectively.On Friday, the maximum temperature was 2.2°C above normal, while the minimum was 3.8°C higher than normal, keeping the city uncomfortably warm even after sunset.An analysis of India Meteorological Department (IMD) data shows that temperatures around mid-Oct were relatively lower in the previous two years, when maximum readings hovered around 34°C to 35°C.Met department officials said the onset of cooler weather depends on a change in wind direction. Winds remained westerly to north-westerly on Thursday, delaying the transition to more temperate conditions.Ashok Kumar Das, director of IMD Gujarat, said temperatures could dip slightly before stabilising, but the change in weather may take some time.The IMD forecast indicated the possibility of light rain in parts of Navsari, Valsad, Amreli and Bhavnagar on Oct 19. Other parts of Gujarat are likely to experience dry weather this week.Across the state, maximum temperatures remained largely between 36°C and 40°C, with Rajkot being the only city to record above 40°C on Friday. On Friday, Rajkot recorded 40.6°C, while Kandla airport registered 40.2°C, highlighting the persistence of unusually high temperatures well into Oct.
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