Delhi heat raises energy demand to record level

The Indian capital, Delhi, is suffering from a prolonged heatwave that has pushed power demand to a record high of 8,647 megawatts this week.

Temperatures have ranged between 44 and 45 degrees Celsius in the city and other parts of northern India for weeks.

The widespread use of cooling devices such as air conditioners has put pressure on resources, leading to frequent power outages in Delhi.

The capital’s record on Tuesday came a day after northern India saw peak power consumption at 89,000 megawatts.

Delhi’s electricity demand has broken several records this season, the first of which was on May 22 when it reached 8,000 MW.

On Monday, the city’s airport experienced a power outage that lasted several minutes and affected service at the stations.

Pictures circulated on social media showed passengers standing in long queues at check-in desks while airline staff waited for their computers to turn on again.

The city is also facing a severe water crisis. Videos shared on social media show crowds carrying buckets pouring onto water trucks.

The Meteorological Department said that the heatwave hitting northern India is likely to continue for the next few days.

Dozens of people have died from heat-related illnesses since March, with the arrival of summer.

In the first week of June, more than 50 people died from the heat over three days in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and the northeastern state of Odisha (formerly Orissa).

Summers in India are usually hot and humid, but this year, the heat has been exceptionally brutal with longer, more intense and more frequent heat waves.

The country is also likely to receive less than normal rain in June, the Meteorological Department said on Tuesday.