The city has been experiencing scorching heat over the past few weeks. Maximum temperatures have ranged between 35 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius. But what is peculiar is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures.

While people are coping with the heat during the late morning and afternoon hours, it is necessary to carry a jacket at night and early in the morning because the minimum temperature is about 15 degrees Celsius.u00a0

The phenomenon of the swinging temperatures has given rise to throat infections, bronchitis and bronchial asthma as well as viral fever. Clinics and hospitals are busy attending to such patients.

"We see the maximum cases of throat infection, bronchitis and bronchial asthma because of change in weather," said Dr Sharad Agharkhedkar, president of the Indian Medical Association, Pune chapter. "People have chilled water or beer after stepping indoors from the heat outside. They forget that though it's hot in the morning, evenings and early mornings are still chilly."

Dr Nitin Jhankar, president of the Pune chapter of General Practitioners Association said: "I have seen that the maximum number of patients during this time complain of viral infection. Whenever the weather changes people need to keep a good check on their health."

Dr A B Mazumdar, Deputy Director of Meteorology (Weather Forecasting), said summer is already here. "Till the end of May, the weather will remain the same and temperatures will be high," said Mazumdar. "There is lack of moisture in the air in this sweltering heat and this will continue for some time."

He said it was unusual for the city to see such broad variation in the maximum and minimum temperatures.