New Delhi: A heat wave and power cuts—North India's twin nightmares continued on Saturday too.
The number of deaths due to severe heat became 17 after two persons died in Uttar Pradesh and one in Orissa.
The electricity crisis is now so bad that power secretaries of nine north Indian states met in Delhi to find solutions.
Restricting withdrawals from the Northern grid was the only immediate solution they could come up with. “All states agreed that there should be discipline in drawing power from the North Indian. All steps will be taken to see that we don't overdraw. Overdrawing leads to loadshedding," said Power Secretary R V Shahi.
Cowed down by threats made by traders, the Delhi government left power conservation to citizens' conscience and said the malls and shops needn't shut down by 7:30 pm.
Many places in the country recorded the hottest day of the summer. The temperature in Delhi peaked at 44.5 degrees Celsius (five above normal), shooting up from Friday's high of 43.8 degrees Celsius.
The temperature was above 40 degrees Celsius in Uttar Pradesh. At 45 degrees Celsius, Jhansi was the hottest place in the state. Temperatures in other places in state hovered at around 40 degrees Celsius.
At 46.6 degree Celsius, Hisar in Haryana was the worst city in north India. The temperature was slightly lower than on Friday, but still six degrees above normal.
Chandigarh (42 degree Celsius), Ambala (42.1 degree Celsius) and Karnal (42.8 C) all recorded their hottest day this summer as the maximum settled four degrees above the normal range.
In Punjab, Amritsar was the hottest city at 44.6 degree Celsius (seven above normal). Ludhiana recorded 44 degree Celsius and Patiala 43.5 degree Celsius both the places recorded four degrees above the normal.
Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala also registered their hottest day of the season. Power cuts in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh made the heat unbearable for the people.
The mercury in the hills soared, and Shimla recorded a high of 28.5 degree Celsius (seven above normal). In Himachal, Bhuntar (36 degree Celsius) and Sundernagar (38.2 degree Celsius) were two other places which recorded high temperatures.
Srinagar recorded a high of 30.4 degree Celsius, up seven degrees since Friday. Intense heat conditions swept Jammu, which recorded a high of 43.6 degrees Celsius (six above normal). The weather department in Jammu said there will no change in the day temperature for the next two days.
(With agency inputs)
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