Bengaluru 'can no longer play the weather card' say citizens as temperature nears 40 degrees

After experiencing the driest April in 41 years and after temperatures in May climbed beyond 38 degrees Celsius, citizens in Bengaluru have been taking to social media to share how they have to turn to coolers and air conditioners in a city that was once famous for its cool and breezy weather. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) report on Monday, the hot and dry weather is likely to continue till May 5.

"Never in my 20 years in Bangalore, I ever thought we would need an AC. Earlier say anything about this city and People would defend it with the pleasant weather. Bangaloreans can no longer play the 'weather' card," investor and equity researcher Prerana Nireeksha Amanna (@AmannaPrerana) wrote on X. Equating the heat to that experienced in Rajasthan, she added that it is unbearable. "Every year summer is harsher than the previous year."

Responding to the post, another X user shared the photo of an air cooler he had bought but never used since 2016. "I bought this air cooler in 2016 in Bangalore because my room was sun facing but never used it after the 2016-17 summer, turned it on now for the first time after eight years! AC will be required soon, I believe," Vishal Vardhan (@microcp2mltibgr) wrote.

Retired colonel Sanjay Pande also took to Twitter to share how Bengaluru was once known as the "no ceiling fan" city. "In 1952, when my father was undergoing training as Air Force Airman in Bangalore, it was famous in India as ‘no ceiling fan’ city. Old houses can still be seen having low ceilings! In 70 years we have come to air conditioners."