Manipur sizzles as Noney records hottest day of 2024

Imphal: A scorching heatwave continues to grip Manipur, with Noney district experiencing the hottest day of the year so far on Wednesday at a scorching 40°C, according to the Director of Environment and Climate Change.

Thursday wasn't much cooler, with Noney recording the second-highest temperature of 2024 at 39.19°C. The report highlighted Longmai bazaar in Noney as being particularly affected due to fewer visitors offering shade and relief from the intense heat.

The unrelenting heat isn't confined to Noney. Districts like Imphal East, Kakching, and Chandel have also sweltered under heatwaves exceeding 34 degrees Celsius in recent days.

The report blames large-scale deforestation for a staggering 4-degree Celsius rise in Manipur's average temperature over the past decade. Previously, comfortable temperatures around 22°C were the norm. However, this has risen significantly to the current range of 33°C to 34°C over the past 20 to 30 years.