Winter: Early birds stay off road in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The weather has suddenly turned so cold that fitness freaks are staying at home instead of venturing out. Places like KBR National Park, Sanjeevaiah Park and Tank Bund, popular hotspots for morning walkers, joggers, cyclists and practitioners of yoga, were almost deserted. Only the most diehard enthusiasts turned up over the past couple of days.

According to Indian Meteorological Department officials, the minimum temperature has plunged by 8ºC in just three days in the city. On Wednesday, the city recorded a minimum of about 20ºC while on Friday it was 12.6ºC.

Mr B. Prasad, who goes to the KBR National Park regularly for a morning walk or a run, says, “I am still going everyday by 5.15 am but almost all my friends are coming  due to the cold. Most of the times I have finished before my friends turn up."

It is not just the low temperatures but also the breeze accompanying it which is making matters tougher for those who love to exercise.

Mr Rahul Ghose of Gachibowli said: “I used to hit the road by 5 am. Although the body warms up after a few minutes of running, I do not feel like facing the biting cold so I am starting as late as 6.30 am and 7 am over the last few days."

Same is the case with those who love to swim; many enthusiasts are avoiding diving into the cold water in the mornings. They are either turning up later in the mornings or not at all.

An official at a private swimming pool located in Narayanguda said, “Keeping the fall in temperatures in mind, we have changed our morning timings. We are now starting at 6 am rather than at 5 am."

IMD: Temperature might drop further

In most places of the state, the minimum temperatures were recorded at 2ºC to 6ºC below normal. In Medak, the minimum recorded was 8ºC and in Hakimpet, 9ºC.

IMD officials said that the temperature might drop further by about 2ºC in the city and by about 1ºC degree in Adilabad.

Cold wave conditions prevailed on Friday over some parts of the Ranga Reddy, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Medak, Karimnagar districts.

IMD officials said the cold wave was caused by northerly and northeasterly dry and cold winds. Minimum temperatures also fell fell over a few places in Andhra Pradesh, with Nandigama recording the lowest at 12ºC, which is 4ºC below normal. However, most places in AP stayed relatively warm.


 

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