India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also warned of the impact of hot temperatures and the growing risk of fires. It started in early April and continues to leave the people gasping in whatever shade they find," she said in a statement. "South Asia, particularly India and Pakistan are faced with what has been a record-breaking heatwave. High temperatures are expected to continue in May.įor the first time in decades the country went from winter to summer without the spring season, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Climate Change, Sherry Rehman, said at the weekend. Pakistan issued a heat warning after the hottest March in 61 years. In April, northwest and central India recorded average maximum temperatures of 35.9C (96.6F) and 37.78C (100F), the director general of the Indian Meteorological Department said, and the mercury soared to 40C (104F) in the capital New Delhi for several days. The world's second largest coal consumer had expected to phase down the dirtiest fossil fuel after it committed at the COP26 climate conference to reach net zero emissions by 2070.īut the federal government has asked state and private sector utilities to ensure delivery of 19 million tonnes of coal from overseas by end of June, Reuters has reported, in an urgent avoid yet more power blackouts.Įxtreme heat swept across large areas of both countries last week and follows the hottest March since the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began keeping records 122 years ago. Burning coal generates around 60-70% of its electricity. The power demands have forced India to row back on a policy to cut down on coal imports.
Blistering heat in India and Pakistan have left people "gasping" for air and forced India to row back on a policy to reduce coal imports to stave off further power blackouts.Īs temperatures soared around India, electricity demand hit a record high in April, with a surge in the use of air conditioning triggering the worst power crisis in more than six years.