The heatwave makes a comeback in the national capital, as Delhi on Saturday witnessed the maximum temperature of 44.2 degrees Celsius which is five notches warmer than the normal temperature for this time of the year. The city also witnessed severe heatwave conditions at three stations including Delhi University, Narela, and Pusa.
The minimum temperature recorded at the Safdarjung Observatory was 26.5 degrees Celsius, which was one notch above the normal temperature for this season. The relative humidity on Friday morning at 8:30 was recorded at 62 per cent and 17 per cent in the evening at 5:30.
The weather stations at Ridge, Ayanagar, Mungeshpur, Najafgarh, Pitampura, Palam, and Lodhi Road recorded maximum temperatures of 45.4 degrees Celsius, 45.4 degrees Celsius, 47.2 degrees Celsius, 47 degrees Celsius, 46.4 degrees Celsius, 44.6 degrees Celsius and 44.4 degrees Celsius respectively, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). No respite for the people of the capital city as the IMD predicted heatwave conditions to continue over Northwest and Central India during the next two days and abatement thereafter. “Gradual rise in maximum temperatures by 3-4 degree Celsius very likely over southern parts of Maharashtra during next two days and no significant change thereafter,” said IMD.
“No significant change in maximum temperatures very likely over rest parts of the country,” IMD added..
The peak power demand in the national capital on Saturday cloaked at 6720 MW.
According to the sources in discoms, the Delhi power demand cloaked 6720 MW at 12:06 the midnight. The city’s peak power demand broke the record on Friday. It not only clocked the season’s highest of 6829 MW at 11:25 pm, but also the highest ever in the month of May. “Cooling load is the main reason behind the capital city’s power load. In fact, according to estimates, almost around 50 per cent of Delhi’s power demand in summers is because of the cooling load due to ACs, coolers, and fans. The rain had a direct bearing on the cooling load,” sources said.
“Delhi’s peak power demand in May had never crossed the 6000 MW in 2021 and 2020. In 2019, it had crossed the 6000 MW mark only on three occasions - May 29 (6020 MW), May 30 (6240 MW), and May 31 (6461 MW),” they said.
“City peak power demand had breached the 7000 MW for the first time – peaking at 7016 MW in 2018. This expected peak power demand of around 8200 MW is an increase of around 285 per cent over the peak power demand of 2879 MW in 2002,” sources added.
Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP), for conducting capacity building training for the development and impartment of capacity building and skill development of personnel in the power distribution sector.