The Hindu : New Delhi News : Power-cuts add to Delhi’s weather woes

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Monday, Apr 28, 2008
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New Delhi

Power-cuts add to Delhi’s weather woes

Staff Reporter

Spell of dry heat to continue for four or five days
City experienced at least 19 rounds of load-shedding

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Taking no chance: The scene at India Gate in New Delhi on Sunday when the temperature shot up to 40 degrees Celsius.

NEW DELHI: With the maximum temperature at 40 degrees Celsius and power outages and water scarcity adding to the woes of the Capital, there was little relief for Delhiites on Sunday.

The maximum temperature was a good two degrees above normal while the minimum settled at 23.6 degrees Celsius, one degree above normal. The dryness in the air added to the discomfiture with a maximum humidity of 47 per cent and a minimum of 12 per cent.

According to the weatherman, the spell of dry heat is unlikely to relent for the coming four to five days with no rains expected to hit the Capital before that. He has forecast a mainly clear sky with a maximum temperature of around 41 degrees Celsius on Monday.

Director of Weather Forecasting at the Meteorological Department B. P. Yadav said: “The weather in Delhi has been typical of the summer season. Some isolated pockets such as Palam are experiencing the heat wave but, this phenomenon cannot be generalised for the entire Delhi. In fact, this year the onset of maximum temperature in the 40s has come too late -- in the third week of April as opposed to the norm of first week of April.”

“This high temperature is expected to go on spiralling till first half of June, but this rise is usually temporarily interrupted by brief thunderstorms, squall or showers. However, we do not foresee any such temporary relief for Delhi in the coming days,” Mr Yadav added.

The British Broadcasting Corporation website too has forecast a maximum temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius, Monday through Thursday.

Meanwhile, under-frequency in the Northern Grid marred Delhiites’ day of repose on Sunday with major parts of the city being subjected to frequent power outages.

The under-frequency in the grid was due to overdrawing by neighbouring States especially Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The city experienced at least 19 rounds of load-shedding during the day. The cuts ranged from an hour to several hours.

The maximum demand during the day was 2,887 MW which was less than Saturday’s on account of offices being closed for the weekend.

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