May 29th 2024.
On a scorching Wednesday in New Delhi, the Mungeshpur area experienced a record-breaking temperature of 52.3 degrees Celsius, according to officials. The previous day, the weather station in this northwestern neighborhood had recorded a high of 49.9 degrees Celsius. But the heat continued to intensify, with the temperature reaching 52.3 degrees Celsius at 4:14 pm, as reported by the website.
An official from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that this is the highest temperature ever recorded in Delhi. When asked about the cause of this extreme heat, IMD regional head Kuldeep Srivastava explained that the city's outskirts are the first to feel the impact of hot winds blowing in from Rajasthan. He specifically mentioned Mungeshpur, Narela, and Najafgarh as the areas most affected by these hot winds.
Mahesh Palawat, the vice president of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, also pointed out that open areas with no shade or vegetation are more susceptible to high temperatures due to increased radiation. He further added that when the wind blows from the west, it hits these areas first and causes a rapid rise in temperatures.
Charan Singh from IMD also echoed this sentiment, stating that open and barren land contributes to the rising temperatures by absorbing more heat from the sun. As a result, the city's peak power demand reached an all-time high of 8,302 MW at 3:36 pm on Wednesday, as reported by power discom officials. This is the first time in Delhi's history that the power demand has crossed the 8,300-MW mark, surpassing the estimated peak demand of 8,200 MW for this summer.
Despite the intense heat and rising temperatures, the city remains resilient, with people finding ways to cope with the scorching weather. But as the mercury continues to rise, it is important to take precautions and stay hydrated to avoid any heat-related illnesses. Let us hope for some respite from this heatwave soon.
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