- Dehli is facing an intense heatwave pushing up the demand for power
- Temperatures are around 44-45°C in Delhi and other northern regions
- Widespread use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners
- Power demand has risen massively leading to frequent power outages
- Heatwave to persist for days in northern India
Delhi heatwave sends power demand soaring to record high
Delhi is grappling with an intense heatwave, pushing power demand to an unprecedented 8,647 megawatts (MW) this week.
Temperatures have consistently hovered around 44-45°C in Delhi and other northern regions for weeks, driving widespread use of cooling appliances such as air conditioners. This surge in usage has strained resources, causing frequent power outages across the city.
On Monday, Delhi’s airport experienced a power outage that disrupted services for several minutes, leading to long queues at check-in counters as staff waited for systems to reboot.
Delhi’s record power demand on Tuesday followed a peak consumption of 89,000 MW in northern India a day earlier. The capital has broken multiple electricity demand records this season, starting with 8,000 MW on May 22.
In addition to the power crisis, Delhi is facing a severe water shortage. Social media videos show crowds with buckets around water trucks, highlighting the desperation for water.
The weather department has forecast that the heatwave will persist in northern India for the coming days. Since March, dozens have died from heat-related illnesses. In early June, over 50 people succumbed to the heat in just three days in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.
While Indian summers are typically hot and humid, this year’s heat has been exceptionally severe, marked by longer, more intense, and frequent heatwaves. Additionally, the weather department has predicted below-normal rainfall for June, exacerbating the situation.