Today, Delhi experienced a record-breaking high temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius, recorded at the Mungeshpur weather station at 2:30 pm, the highest-ever temperature documented in India.
This extreme heat, driven by hot winds from Rajasthan, has been exacerbating the already severe weather conditions in the national capital, with temperatures frequently hovering around 50 degrees Celsius.
Kuldeep Srivastava, head of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) regional office, noted that areas on the outskirts of Delhi, such as Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh, are particularly vulnerable to these hot winds, resulting in extreme heat conditions in these regions.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, explained that open areas with vacant land receive increased radiation, which, combined with direct sunlight and lack of shade, causes these areas to heat up quickly.
Also Read: It’s a record! Delhi clocks highest-ever temperature in India
Despite the sweltering heat, Delhi received some showers in the afternoon, providing a brief respite. The showers came as a surprise given the earlier IMD forecast which had predicted a maximum temperature of 45.8 degrees Celsius for the day.
The extreme heat has also led to an unprecedented demand for power, with the capital’s power consumption hitting a historic high of 8,302 MW today, surpassing previous records and the predictions of power distribution companies by 100 MW.
Also Read: Washing cars with hose to attract Rs 2,000 fine as Delhi govt imposes curbs amid water crisis
Compounding the heat crisis, Delhi is also facing a water shortage. Delhi Minister Atishi has pointed out that the Haryana government has not been supplying the capital with its share of Yamuna water, leading to shortages in several areas.
In response, the AAP government has directed the Delhi Jal Board to form 200 teams to monitor and reduce water wastage. Penalties of Rs 2,000 will be imposed for activities such as washing cars with hose pipes, allowing water tanks to overflow, and using drinking water for commercial purposes.
These measures come amid a severe heatwave, highlighting the challenges of managing essential resources like power and water during extreme weather conditions.
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