As April temperatures in Telangana breach the 44°C threshold, a growing body of climatological data is reinforcing what environmentalists have warned for years—Hyderabad and surrounding districts are becoming hotter, faster, and more uniformly than ever before.
Experts say the region’s temperature surge, marked by a 1.5°C to 2.5°C rise across 20 of the state’s 33 districts, is no longer an anomaly but a symptom of a structural climatic transition. Weather data compiled by the Telangana State Development Planning Society highlights that districts like Kumuram Bheem Asifabad and Adilabad have recorded average maximum temperatures of 42.9°C—well above historical norms. More moderate zones, including Medak and Sangareddy, are also seeing sharp deviations from their climatological averages, signalling that no part of the state is immune to the broader ecological upheaval.
According to officials from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), this year’s heat pattern is distinct not just in intensity but in its geographic spread. Even regions typically buffered by vegetation or elevation are registering temperature anomalies, suggesting a fundamental shift in weather dynamics. The presence of dry northwesterly winds, which have become more frequent in recent years, is exacerbating the situation by lowering humidity levels and amplifying thermal stress. Experts attribute the intensifying heat primarily to a trio of interlinked causes—diminishing forest cover, rampant urbanisation, and altered atmospheric conditions. Remote sensing data indicates that Telangana’s recorded forest area declined from 18,561.98 sq km in 2021 to 18,456.11 sq km in 2023. Though this may appear minor in terms of absolute loss, specialists argue that these reductions near urban fringes are particularly damaging. Even marginal shrinkages in green buffers can severely undermine the local capacity for evapotranspiration, a process vital for cooling ambient air.
A growing concern is the state capital Hyderabad, where urban heat island (UHI) effects have become increasingly pronounced. Records from the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department show that the city’s commercial built-up area exploded by over 150 million square feet between 2010 and 2019. This rapid concretisation has not only replaced natural landscapes but has also significantly altered the city’s surface energy balance. A recent study by faculty members at a premier Indian technology institute places Hyderabad among the top ten cities in India witnessing accelerated rises in land surface temperatures (LST). The analysis shows an increase of 0.75°C per decade in Hyderabad’s LST—only marginally behind larger metros like Delhi and Pune. The researchers point to the substitution of pervious, green surfaces with heat-absorbing materials such as asphalt and concrete, alongside reduced vegetation and increased anthropogenic activity, as principal drivers of this warming.
More alarmingly, the study asserts that this urban-centric warming does not remain confined to city limits. As cities expand into peri-urban and rural areas, they also carry their thermal footprint with them, transforming entire ecosystems. The altered land surfaces suppress natural convection, disrupt rainfall cycles, and escalate air pollution levels—an interconnected suite of challenges that has long-term implications for agriculture, water security, and human health. The consequences are beginning to show. Public health authorities are reporting an uptick in heat-related illnesses, particularly among vulnerable populations such as construction workers, senior citizens, and schoolchildren. At the same time, urban infrastructure—especially energy and water systems—faces increased strain as residents turn to air-conditioning and water tankers in growing numbers, further amplifying the carbon footprint of daily life.
Officials working in the state’s planning and environment departments are calling for a rethink in urban development policy. According to a senior urban planning expert, there is an urgent need to mandate ecological safeguards, such as green roofing, tree-lined corridors, and permeable pavements in all new construction projects. “We cannot afford to view climate as an afterthought to development anymore. The science is clear—our cities are becoming pressure cookers,” the official stated. Environmentalists are pushing for a comprehensive climate action strategy that focuses on both mitigation and adaptation. Key proposals include restoring green belts, enforcing sustainable building codes, integrating climate risk into municipal budgets, and conducting detailed heat risk mapping for all urban zones.
Without such interventions, they warn, Telangana may be locking itself into a future of severe, chronic heat stress—a reality that will not only test its ecological resilience but also its social and economic stability. While policymakers have begun acknowledging the urgency of the crisis, translating that awareness into ground-level change remains the real challenge. The current heatwave is not just a weather event—it is a wake-up call for a systemic overhaul of how urban India balances growth with climate responsibility. In this battle against rising heat, Hyderabad is both a frontline and a case study for the rest of the country.
Also Read :https://urbanacres.in/delhi-temperatures-breach-43-degree-mark/
Hyderabad hits climate red zone with 2.5 degree celsius surge
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