The hottest April that was
By Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 30 — April this year was the hottest-ever in the recorded history of the city. Today the mercury soared to 43°C, the highest for any day during April. This beats the previous highest day time temperature, 42.6°C, recorded on April 21, 1980.

Officials at the local Meteorological Department say never in the brief history of the city had day time temperatures been so much above normal. Besides, never before had day temperatures crossed the 40°C mark on 11 days in April.

Day temperatures remained above normal by 4 to 7 degree celsius on a record 24 days of the month. Since April 19, temperatures were consistently above normal. The month began with above normal day time temperatures. Since then mercury rose steadily.

Very rarely do day temperatures touch or cross the 40°C mark in April. Between 1989 and 1998, the data of day time temperatures in April indicates that these had gone up to and beyond 40°C only on 11 days in these 10 years. Out of these 11 days, temperature on eight days in April, 1993, had gone beyond the 40 degrees barrier. So the 40°C mark was touched only on three days in the remaining nine years.

Recorded data is available in the local meteorological office from 1982. Since then, till 1998 — a period of 17 years — day time temperatures in April had crossed the 40 degrees mark only on a total of 27 days.

The number of hotter April months over the years have been like this: 8 days in 1993, 7 days in 1985, 4 days in 1988 and 2 days in each in 1986 and 1984.

Interestingly, the months of April between 1994 to 1998 — a period of five years — temperature touched the 40°C mark only once — on April 25, 1998.

So far, lack of rain is the only understood reason for the exceptionally high temperatures, Mr Subhash Chander Bhan, Director, local meteorological office, said today. On the other hand, such high temperatures do not mean for sure that there will be an early or heavier monsoon. High temperatures are just one of the 16 parameters required for rain and the arrival of rain will depend upon how the other parameters behave, he added.

This year the city had no rain during April. This has never happened before. Fires in the surrounding areas could not be the only reason for the high temperatures as a heat wave was sweeping the entire north-western plains. The fire itself is caused as a result of high temperatures and no rain, Met officials said while dismissing fire to be the reason behind the exceptionally high temperatures.

Following is the impact of the heat during this April:

* Today’s temperature of 43°C was the record highest for April in the history of Chandigarh.

* The previous highest was 42.6°C on April 21, 1980.

* Between 1989 and 1998 — a period of 10 years — temperatures crossed the 40°C mark only on a total of 11 days. During this month alone the mercury crossed 40°C on 11 days.

* No rain has been recorded in April this year. This, in itself, is a record.

* Hills, too, had to bear the brunt. Shimla, Srinagar and Bhunter (near Kulu) recorded temperatures of 28.4, 29.6 and 30.6 degrees celsius, respectively, yesterday. These were between 5 to 9 degrees above normal.

* Take heart, Chandigarh (42.6) is still better of compared to Hisar (45.3), Bathinda (44.2), Patiala 43.4) and Amritsar (43.7).

* Meterological experts have classified this as a heat wave sweeping the north-western plains. The heat wave is severe in some areas and moderate in others.

Factors that cause heatwave
By R.S. Mann

STRANGE things are happening to the weather. The heat wave, which, in fact, began in the middle of March, continues to sweep North India with the mercury hovering well above the 40° C mark and that too in the temperate months of March and April.

Normally, such heatwave is experienced in June when the sun in its annual northward motion reaches the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° north latitude) on June 21 and then turns about to move southward. Consequently, the build-up of heat becomes maximum for about a month or more from the first week of June all over North India.

Generally dry weather in January and February in the country (except North-West India which receives rainfall from western disturbances) is followed by pre-monsoon transitional regime extending from the middle of March through April and May. Because of the northwardly movement of the sun in March the highest temperature, approximately 37°C, is found in Tamil Nadu; in April it moves to Madhya Pradesh (around 40°C); and in May and June it shifts to northern Rajasthan and the adjoining parts of Punjab and Haryana (46°C).

This northward movement of high temperature is closely chased by low air pressure. The difference in air pressure becomes more intense between land and sea in March and April near the coastal regions. The moist sea air invades land resulting in thunderstorm showers locally called as mango showers in Andhra Pradesh. The moderate high temperature is in the entire coastal belt extending from Orissa to Tamil Nadu. It appears, these storms were not effective during the ongoing season.

In the summer season, particularly from May to June, there is no rainfall in northern India and hot winds blow locally termed as “loo”. Usually, their direction is westerly. Whenever humid air comes in the contact of “loo” it too causes storms. Such storms are known as Norwesters in West Bengal and Assam and they bring rains in both states and the adjoining areas. This rainfall, besides being useful for tea plantations, also cools the weather. Mysteriously, Norwesters too are inactive during this season.

All these factors combined have contributed to the building of above normal temperatures. The prevailing unusual heatwave in North India is a localised phenomena indeed, but it could also be part of a much larger climatic changing regime. In 1988, the eastern coastal region of the USA was also hit by a strange heatwave. Similarly, in 1989 Spain faced endless summer while in France May emerged as the hottest month ever recorded. Therefore, such erratic weather conditions do occur now and then in different parts of the globe.

But, now the question is how do you justify the present untimely heatwave. At this point of time i.e. April, the maximum temperature should have been around 35°C in North-West India, but at the moment it continues 5 to 7 degrees above normal. In fact, it could be the result of the continental climatic conditions created by hot dry winds blowing from north-westerly direction. Had these winds adopted a more westerly course they could have carried some moisture from the north Arabian Sea and mercury would have fallen in and around Delhi due to cooling effect of the moist winds.

The extra tropical weather systems, popularly known as extra tropical storms, originates from north or south of the Tropic of Cancer both in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and normally have a tendency to move northward. But presently they are still hanging fairly in southern latitudes.

Of course, the general movement of these storms is from west to east. Typically, they are accompanied with cloudy weather and rains. As the warm moist air moves inward it is lifted by strong conventional air currents and condenses and in the process formation of clouds and precipitation take place which force mercury to come down.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon did not occur this year neither over north-west India nor north-eastern and eastern states resulting in the untimely heatwave in the entire North India.

The writer is a Fellow of the International Centre for Asian Studies (Hong Kong) and teaches geography at Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh.

Vocational courses tie-up with hospitals
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 30 — The health and paramedical vocational courses under the Vocational Education Programme, UT, at the plus two stage will run in partnership with Government Medical College Hospital, Sector 32; General Hospital, Sector 16, and the Directorate of Health Services, UT. A proposal of the UT Education Department regarding the dual model of imparting vocational training of paramedical courses at the school level was accepted at a meeting held yesterday.

The meeting was chaired by the Home-cum-Education Secretary, Mrs Anuradha Gupta, and attended by representatives of the departments of Health, Medical Education and Education.

According to Mrs Gupta, the dual model will facilitate the upgradation of skills in accordance with the requirements of the hospital management. It was found that the short duration of 45 days' training envisaged in these vocational courses was not adequate to impart the necessary skills. Hence, it became imperative to substantially improve the level and quality of practical training which will subsequently generate manpower to meet the requirements of this industry.

Mrs Gupta further emphasised that in the classroom, a hospital situation can never be simulated. So, the practical training will be imparted for nearly half the duration of the two-year course in both Chandigarh Medical College Hospital, Sector 32, and General Hospital, Sector 16. Not only the government sector, but even the private sector would lap up the product generated after this training, she added.

Keeping all this in view, she asked the representatives of the Department of Health and Medical Education to amend the recruitment rules in favour of the vocational stream passouts of paramedical courses so that they could be absorbed in various jobs for which they are found eligible after passing the 10+2 vocational stream.

To begin with, the facility will be extended to the ongoing Medical Lab Technology and Ophthalmic Techniques in GMSSS-10, Medical Lab Technology course in GGSSS-20B and Auxiliary Nursing and Midwifery course in GSSS-15.

The Assistant Director, Vocational Education, Mrs Pritpal Kaur, said that under the dual system, it has been agreed that right from the introduction of courses to the placement of students, the responsibility will be shared jointly by the health and education sectors. The norms for admission, eligibility guidelines and admission notices will also be issued jointly.

The very fact that the candidates will be on the rolls of their respective schools as well as that of the training hospital will not only enhance the credibility of these courses, but also improve employment prospects of the students. The curriculum framed by the Ministry of Health for 10 +2 and duly adopted by the CBSE will be followed. However, the prescribed curriculum can be strengthened at the local level necessitated due to the upgradation of technology and work place requirements.

While physics, chemistry and biology, general foundation courses and theory of three vocational elective papers would be taught by the school faculty and practicals-related theory of the three vocational electives would be taught by hospital faculty. However, attendance and training records will be maintained by school as well as training hospital. But liaison and coordination will be the responsibility of the school concerned .

Under this system, examination and evaluation will be done as per the guidelines and instructions of the CBSE. The training institute will also participate in the evaluation process and issue vocational competencies/skill certificates to the successful candidates. The two-year vocational course i.e. 10+ 2 will be followed by one year of apprenticeship training. Arrangements for this have been made at the Medical College Hospital, Sector 32 and General Hospital, Sector 16, and the training will be as per the provision of the apprenticeship Act. The programme will be under the overall control and supervision of the Principal, GMCH—32/ Medical Superintendent, Sector 16, and DPI (Schools).

The Education Department is also planning to introduce new courses in the emerging areas to avail the benefits of the participatory role of health and education.

While GMCH-32 is in the process of setting up a physiotherapy department, the Education Department has decided to start a vocational course in physiotherapy at the plus two level from this session as a preparatory measure to meet their requirement. It was decided to form a core group comprising the Principal, GMCH-32, Medical Superintendent, Sector 32, Head of the Orthopaedic Department and a leading private physiotherapist and other experts to work out the modalities for this course. The bio-medical technology course which was terminated last year will also be revived with new emphasis. In future, all paramedical courses which will be started by the department will be imparted training by following the dual model.

Watermelon — large quantities, high prices
By Varinder Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, April 30 — City roadside is dotted with big heaps of watermelon these days but what is acting as a deterrent for residents to relish the juicy fruit is its high price this season as compared to last year.

One can see heaps of the fruit under trees along most of the roads where people of all age groups can be seen bargaining for their ''summer favourite''.

Such heaps can also be seen at all entry points to the satellite towns of Panchkula and SAS Nagar.

During a survey by TNS today it was found that at present mainly two varieties of the fruit — ''ramdhari'' and ''anarkali'' — are selling in the city. While the ''ramdhari'' variety can be recognised from long dark green stripes on a light green skin, the ''anarkali'' has sleek lines on its dark green skin. While the hybrid ''ramdhari'' variety, known for its sweetness and small quantity of seeds in it, is selling at a higher price, the other one costs less, for it is not so sweet and is generally full with seeds.

"I always prefer the 'ramdhari' variety of the fruit in spite of its being priced on a higher side," said Mr Darshan, an employee who had come to the Sector 27 vegetable market to buy the fruit. He claimed that every summer he consumed the fruit daily because of its medicinal values.

Ms Raj Kumari, a housewife, said due to the high price she was purchasing a 2.5-kg watermelon for her family instead of 5 kg she used to buy per day last year.

The ''ramdhari'' variety was available in different parts of the city today at Rs 8 a kg, while the retail price of the ''anarkali'' variety was Rs 6. The retail prices of the fruit were Rs 5 to Rs 6 for ''ramdhari'' and Rs 3 to Rs 4 for ''anarkali'' last year.

"The high prices of the fruit have affected the sale. If I was selling 10 quintals of the fruit a day last year, it is about five quintals a day now," said Nagar Ram, a vendor selling the fruit on the road dividing Sectors 43 and 44. He said if a truckload of the fruit was available for Rs 30,000 last year, it was available in Delhi for Rs 60,000 these days. This was a major factor behind the hike in the prices of the fruit.

According to vendors, another factor which had pushed up the prices was the imposition of a higher ground rent by the Municipal Corporation and the lesser availability of the fruit from different parts of Rajasthan from where the fruit was coming these days. "We have to pay the ground rent at the rate of Rs 500 per day," said Baru Ram, a vendor. He hoped the situation on the price front would improve after the arrival of the local crop from Doaba area within a week's time.