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32.4°: Shimla hottest in 170 yrs
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 27
The soaring mercury beat all available records to make today the hottest day in the Queen of the Hills in 170 years. As the temperature climbed to 32.4° C, tourists who were here for a summer sojourn from the plains sweated it out under the scorching sun. Temperatures in other parts of the state, too, broke records.

“This is the highest-ever maximum temperature in the state capital since 1840 when the first observatory was set up at the Viceregal Lodge here,” said Manmohan Singh, director of the local Meteorological Centre. He said with a western disturbance approaching Jammu and Kashmir, there was possibility of rain in some places during the next 24 hours, which could bring in much-needed respite.

Before this, the highest-ever temperature in the town was recorded on May 20, 2004 when the mercury touched 31.7°C. The warmest day before it was on June 13, 1932 when the maximum temperature stood at 30.8°C.

Both locals and tourists had a tough time. Being a hill station, the absence of fans, coolers and ACs made the situation worse. “We came here to escape the Delhi heat but since there are no fans, coolers and air conditioners in hotels, it is worse than the plains. We have decided to cut short our holiday and return home,” said Deepak Khanna.

With the water scarcity worsening, tough times lie ahead. Water levels in the main schemes at Gumma and Ashwani Khud have receded. Only 30.46 MLD was supplied to the town against its requirement of 50 MLD. The Municipal Corporation has already started rationing water by supplying it on alternate days. In case it does not rain soon, the situation will only worsen.