New Delhi, June 18 (Agency) As the national capital continues to grapple with severe heatwave conditions, the power demand in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon reached 8647 megawatts, the highest of all time, according to the State Load Dispatch Centre, Delhi. The previous highest peak power demand of Delhi was 8,302 MW on May 29 this year. Delhi’s peak power demand reached 8,000 MW for the first time on May 22, 2024, the DISCOM officials said. The BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL) have successfully met the peak power demand in their respective areas, the officials noted.
Amid the ongoing heatwave, local vegetable and street food vendors and construction workers expressed their struggles. “It’s unbearable to work in such high temperatures. The heat is not only affecting our health but also the freshness of our produce,” said Dinesh Prajapati, a vendor from East Delhi market. “Working under the scorching sun has become extremely challenging. We have to take frequent breaks to avoid heat exhaustion,” said Ramesh Singh, a construction worker. “The heat makes the tools and materials too hot to handle, slowing down our work,” he added. Street food vendors are similarly affected. “Customers are few because no one wants to be out in this heat.
We are struggling to make ends meet,” said Ayesha Begum, who runs a small Chinese food stall. A red alert for severe heatwave conditions has been issued in the city today. According to the weather department, heatwave to severe heatwave conditions will continue to prevail over many parts of North India during the next 24 hours and gradually abate thereafter due to an approaching Western Disturbance toward Northwest India. “The maximum temperatures were in the range of 44-46°C over most parts of plains of north India, these were above normal by 5-8°C over the region,” the IMD said. The maximum temperature in the city is hovering around 45 degrees Celsius. The weather department has also forecast warm night conditions in Delhi till tomorrow.