Electricity demand peaks as Delhi comes under the grip of heat wave

New Delhi: As Delhi reeled under sweltering heat conditions and the mercury crossed 44 degrees Celsius, the demand for electricity peaked for the year. According to power department, the maximum demand for power reached 4,732 megawatt (MW) at 2.48 PM, breaching Sunday's record demand of 4.406 MW.

Last year, maximum power demand had gone beyond 5,600 MW. A power department official said that the demand is likely to break last year's record. Meanwhile, certain areas in Delhi faced long power cuts due to gap in demand and supply.

Various areas in North, West Delhi reported long outages, while a technical fault in 220KV transmission line, between Gazipur and Badarpur, led to power cuts in a number of areas in East and South Delhi. The fault in the transmission line was rectified by late evening and electricity supply was restored, the official said.

"We have been facing long power cuts in these heatwave conditions. Life without power is just like hell," said Satya Sagar, a Janakpuri resident. There was no respite to Delhiites from the sweltering heat as the city continued to sizzle under heat waves with the mercury soaring to over 44 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature too touching the 30-degree mark.