A senior Indian Forest Service officer has attributed rising temperatures in Bengaluru to the rapid loss of green cover, warning of long-term consequences if the trend continues.
Dipika Goyal Bajpai said the city, which has recorded temperatures above 39 degrees Celsius this summer, is experiencing unprecedented heat due to deforestation and urban expansion.
“Bangalore has seen heat like never before. Part of the problem is large-scale deforestation and concrete roads with roadside trees gone permanently,” she wrote in a post on X.
She cautioned that the situation could worsen in the coming years and called for measures such as aggressive roadside tree planting, creation of urban forest parks, and making trees mandatory in residential areas.
Once known for its moderate climate and tree-lined avenues, Bengaluru has in recent years seen a steady rise in temperatures, with new records being set almost annually.
The post drew widespread attention online, garnering tens of thousands of views and hundreds of reactions. Many users echoed concerns about unplanned development, alleging that tree cover has been sacrificed for infrastructure projects, including road widening and construction.
Several comments pointed to the lack of replanting after trees are cut and linked the disappearance of shaded roads to a noticeable increase in local temperatures.