Delhi sets new all-time peak power consumption record at 8,748 MW amid heat wave | Today’s news

Delhi’s peak power consumption touched a record 8,748 MW at 3:17 pm on Monday, the highest ever recorded in the capital’s history, as rising temperatures continued to fuel electricity consumption.

According to the State Load Despatch Center (SLDC), the new peak surpassed the previous all-time high of 8,656 MW recorded on June 19, 2024. The latest milestone underscores the surge in power demand amid the ongoing heat wave, ANI reported.

The record comes as the nation’s capital continues to grapple with intense heat, with both day and night temperatures remaining well above normal.

Like Sunday, Delhi woke up to another unseasonably warm morning on Monday, with the minimum temperature settling at 31.1 degrees Celsius, matching the previous day’s reading – the hottest morning the city has experienced in two years.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature was 3.2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average. The last time the city’s minimum temperature was higher was on June 14, 2024, when it hovered at 33.3 degrees Celsius.

The weather station has predicted that the maximum daily temperatures will hover around 41 degrees Celsius. However, isolated thunderstorms accompanied by rain are likely, which could provide some respite from the prevailing heat.

At Safdarjung, Delhi’s base weather station, the minimum temperature was recorded at 31.1 degrees Celsius. Other observatories also reported above-normal temperatures, with Lodhi Road recording 30.2 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees above normal), Palam 29.7 degrees Celsius (1.7 degrees above normal), Ayanagar 29.4 degrees Celsius and Ridge 28.4 degrees Celsius.

The IMD said no rainfall was recorded in Safdarjung, Palam, Lodhi Road, Ridge or Ayanagar during the 24-hour period ending at 8:30 am on Monday.

On Sunday, Delhi experienced scorching conditions with maximum temperatures ranging from 41.8 degrees Celsius to 42.6 degrees Celsius at five observatories, 2.6 to 5.1 degrees above the seasonal average, according to IMD data.

Meanwhile, the air quality in the capital remained in the “moderate” category on Monday morning. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed an average air quality index (AQI) of 140.

According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51-100 is “satisfactory”, 101-200 is “moderate”, 201-300 is “poor”, 301-400 is “very poor” and 401-50 falls into the category.