As the Mercury soared in the national Capital on Thursday recording the hottest day of July in the last two years, the power demand in the city too hit the roof surpassing all previous records to be recorded at 5,789 MW. With no rain in sight, the city sizzled as the maximum temperature refused to budge below the 40°C mark to settle at 41.3°C.
The power demand peaked because of scorching heat due to elusive rains in the month of monsoon and also high levels of humidity in the air, said Delhi Government officials. “The consumption of power is excessive due to the use of electrical appliances, especially air conditioners. Delhi has arranged sufficient power and the power companies will be able to meet the predicted peak demand of 6,100 MW. The total consumption of power from midnight of July 8 to midnight of July 9 was 116.308 million units, which is very close to the highest recorded consumption of 116.735 million units on June 20 this year,” said officials in the Power Department. The city had witnessed peak demand of 5,653 MW in June 7 last year. Peak demand touched 5,642 MW in 2012 while the demand was 5,028 MW in 2011.
Meanwhile, the sun also refused to relent on Thursday as the mercury soared recording the hottest day of July in last two years. The maximum temperature was a degree higher than Wednesday’s maximum of 40.5°C. “last year, the mercury only soared as high as 39.2°C while in 2012 it had touched 43.5°C. Usually July witnesses monsoon and the current upward trend in temperature is mainly due to elusive rains,” said a MeT Department official said.
The day temperature of 41.3°C recorded at Safdarjung Observatory, considered the official reading for the city was six notches above normal for this time of the year. At the Palam Observatory, day temperature was registered at 43.5°C while in Ridge area and Ayanagar it settled at 41.2°C and 42.3°C Celsius respectively. The minimum temperature was recorded at 30°C, three points above normal as against Wednesday’s 29.6°C. Humidity levels hovered between 65 per cent and 32 per cent.
Similar weather conditions are likely to prevail in the city during the next 24 hours as the weatherman has predicted partly cloudy sky while the maximum and minimum are expected to settle around 41°C and 30°C respectively. “There is very less possibility of rainfall,” the official added.