Bhopal, April 26 -- The early onset of summer also marks the premature arrival of the fire season in the state capital. Fire and emergency services, however, have failed to adapt to the shift in meteorological trends. Mock drills and safety programmes continue into April-by which time the city, particularly its green cover, is already scorched by several major fires.
Traditionally, May was considered peak fire season. That timeline no longer holds. Rising temperatures in March and April are fuelling an increasing number of fire incidents in tandem with the early spurt in mercury each year.
Meteorologist Premendra Kumar from the city weather office explains, "Clear skies, high winds, and soaring temperatures are the main reasons small fire...