People are suffering from the heat in Delhi NCR. In view of the possibility of heat wave, the Meteorological Department has issued a yellow warning for seven days. On Wednesday, the mercury in Delhi was recorded at 40 degrees with a rise of five degrees above the average. At the same time, the Sports Complex was the hottest place in Delhi with 42 degree Celsius. The mercury remained beyond 41 in Pitampura and Ridge. According to the Meteorological Department, there is no hope of getting relief from the heat for at least a week.
The Meteorological Department had predicted that the day temperature would be above 40 degrees Celsius or 4.5 degrees Celsius above normal on Wednesday. It was recorded around 39.3 degree Celsius. Hot winds are declared heatwave when the temperature is 40 degrees or more. Experts say that due to the absence of rain due to dry westerly winds, the heat has increased more. Delhi did not receive any rain in March, the first time since 2018. Generally, March receives an average of 15.9 mm of rain.
The minimum temperature in Delhi on Wednesday was recorded at 18.7 degrees Celsius, a notch below the average. Whereas the humidity in the air was almost negligible i.e. 16 percent. The department had predicted the continuation of severe heat wave in Delhi. Further, the maximum temperature is expected to reach 41 degree Celsius. On the other hand, by Saturday it can reach 43 degree Celsius. Delhi has been witnessing heat wave since the last week of March with the maximum temperature exceeding 40 degree Celsius. Officials of the Meteorological Department said that due to prolonged dry weather, the heat has increased in North-West India.
Increase in demand for electricity with increase in temperature: With the rise in temperature, the demand for electricity in Delhi is also increasing continuously. The maximum demand of electricity where 4673 MW was recorded at 3:47 pm on Tuesday afternoon. At the same time, 4762 MW was recorded at 3:25 pm on Wednesday. In this way, within 24 hours, the demand for electricity in Delhi was 124 MW more. The minimum demand for electricity in the capital for the past several days is also beyond 3200 MW. The minimum demand on Tuesday was 3264 MW. On Wednesday, this demand was about 3382 MW. Unannounced power cuts were made in many areas of the capital due to demand-supply gap.
Hot winds will blow throughout the country in April: Meteorological Department
People are not going to get rid of heat and heat at the moment. At present, except Northeast India, almost the entire country is in the grip of severe heat. While severe heat wave conditions are prevailing in Northwest and Central India, the temperature in hilly areas is also running 4 to 8 degrees above normal. Director General of Meteorological Department Mrityunjay Mohapatra has said that the whole of April will be hot. He has estimated that the maximum temperature can go up to 43 to 45 degrees. The Indian Meteorological Department said that there will be severe heat and heat wave conditions in different parts of western Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Heat wave conditions persist over parts of East Rajasthan. South Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, East Uttar Pradesh and parts of Saurashtra and Kutch are also in the grip of severe heat wave conditions.
The Meteorological Department said that most parts of West Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha saw the maximum temperature in the range of 41-43 degrees Celsius. Heat wave conditions were also observed over many parts of East Uttar Pradesh, parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Gujarat and isolated areas of East Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada and Chhattisgarh. The mercury remained around 41 to 42 degrees in these areas.
Mohapatra said that earlier it was forecast that the month of April will be much hotter than March and the temperature will be above normal. He said that the conditions of severe heat in April will be much more than in March. Heat wave conditions are expected to continue in some parts till April 15. At the same time, the Meteorological Department said in a statement that the current wave of severe heat wave started mainly over western Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Gujarat and west Madhya Pradesh from March 27.