New Delhi: For Delhi residents, summers meant quick getaways to the cooler sub-Himalayan retreats, barely 6-7 hours away, where the maximum temperature would typically hover in the late 30s. This as Delhi simmered under the harsh summer heat with the temperature shooting up in the 40s.
Call it the effects of global warming with the cool climes in the hills now giving way to unusually hot weather conditions. Tourists are flocking further to the upper reaches in the hope of escaping the sizzling heat.
Data released by department of Economics and Statistics has revealed that Himachal Pradesh recorded an average maximum temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius in 1971-72 which increased to 33.7 degree Celsius in the year 2010-11.
Amit Kumar, a hotel owner from Shimla expressed concern at the dwindling inflow of tourists. “More people are heading to Srinagar as the climate is cooler. While hotel occupancy in Shimla and Manali is 70-80%, hotels in Srinagar are booked till August,” said Kumar. In 2011, Shimla recorded a maximum temperature of 26.8 degrees while this year it has already breached the 30 degrees mark in the first few days of June. Dr J C Kuniyal, senior scientist at G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development in Almora said global warming was also affecting the crop pattern in Uttarakhand as well.
“In Kullu valley alone, it has become warmer on an average of 0.9 degree Celsius from 1965 to 1998. In 1965, the apple belt existed at a height of 1000 m above sea level. Now, the cultivation of the fruit thrives at 2000m above sea level,” said Kuniyal.
Another popular tourist destination, Mussoorie, too has not been spared from the effects of global warming.
Stranded tourists to be airlifted in Spiti T he Lahaul-Spiti administration on Tuesday decided to airlift 18 tourists stranded in the region’s Pin valley since June 6 after a glacier collapsed and washed away a concrete road. Eleven foreigners including eight nationals from Israel, three from Britain and seven Indians continue to be stranded after a temporary ropeway installed for the rescue was also washed away in the floods
Call it the effects of global warming with the cool climes in the hills now giving way to unusually hot weather conditions. Tourists are flocking further to the upper reaches in the hope of escaping the sizzling heat.
Data released by department of Economics and Statistics has revealed that Himachal Pradesh recorded an average maximum temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius in 1971-72 which increased to 33.7 degree Celsius in the year 2010-11.
Amit Kumar, a hotel owner from Shimla expressed concern at the dwindling inflow of tourists. “More people are heading to Srinagar as the climate is cooler. While hotel occupancy in Shimla and Manali is 70-80%, hotels in Srinagar are booked till August,” said Kumar. In 2011, Shimla recorded a maximum temperature of 26.8 degrees while this year it has already breached the 30 degrees mark in the first few days of June. Dr J C Kuniyal, senior scientist at G B Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development in Almora said global warming was also affecting the crop pattern in Uttarakhand as well.
“In Kullu valley alone, it has become warmer on an average of 0.9 degree Celsius from 1965 to 1998. In 1965, the apple belt existed at a height of 1000 m above sea level. Now, the cultivation of the fruit thrives at 2000m above sea level,” said Kuniyal.
Another popular tourist destination, Mussoorie, too has not been spared from the effects of global warming.
Stranded tourists to be airlifted in Spiti T he Lahaul-Spiti administration on Tuesday decided to airlift 18 tourists stranded in the region’s Pin valley since June 6 after a glacier collapsed and washed away a concrete road. Eleven foreigners including eight nationals from Israel, three from Britain and seven Indians continue to be stranded after a temporary ropeway installed for the rescue was also washed away in the floods
No comments:
Post a Comment