India, March 24 -- Bengaluru, once known for its interconnected lake system and lush greenery, experienced peak summer temperatures as low as 14-16degC in the 1800s.

This drastic contrast to today's climate was highlighted by Dr. TV Ramachandra, a distinguished researcher at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, in an episode of Q-Head Podcasts.

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According to Dr. Ramachandra, Bengaluru had 1,452 water bodies and 80 per cent green cover in the 1800s, which helped maintain its cool climate. However, rapid urbanization and encroachment have drastically reduced these numbers.

By the 1970s, the city h...