What’s Causing Warm Nights In Delhi, What’s The Solution: Expert Explains

New Delhi: 

As north India reels under a record-breaking heatwave, a sustainable habitat expert has explained why India’s big cities are turning into heat islands and reporting unprecedented night temperatures.

Rajneesh Sareen leads the Sustainable Habitat Programme at Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment. Speaking to NDTV on what is driving the abnormally high night temperatures, he explained, “The construction and concretisation in big cities like Delhi have gone up significantly. Concrete buildings absorb heat through the day and release it at night. This is why minimum temperatures are rising in big cities,” said Mr Sareen, programme director for Sustainable Habitat Programme at CSE.

Last night, Delhi experienced its warmest night in 12 years, with the temperature settling at 35.2 degrees Celsius, eight notches above normal.Earlier, Mr Sareen said, daytime temperatures would be high, but people would get some relief at night. “Nowadays, ACs are exploding because of a heat island effect,” he said.