Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 14 (PTI) Keralam continued to experience unusually high temperatures on Monday, with maximum temperatures in several places exceeding the normal by more than three degrees Celsius.
The combination of reduced rainfall and high heat also pushed electricity demand to levels normally seen during the summer months.
According to the India Meteorological Department, Punalur in Kollam district recorded the state’s highest maximum temperature on Monday at 36.5 degrees Celsius, 4.6 degrees above normal.
Kottayam recorded 35.0 degrees Celsius, 4.1 degrees above normal, while Kannur Airport also recorded 35.0 degrees Celsius.
Kozhikode recorded 34.3 degrees Celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal.
Thiruvananthapuram City recorded 33.8 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees above normal; CIAL Kochi 33.7 degrees Celsius, 3.2 degrees above normal; Vellanikkara 33.7 degrees Celsius, 3.5 degrees above normal; and Palakkad 33.5 degrees Celsius, 3.1 degrees above normal, the IMD said on Monday evening.
Karipur Airport in Malappuram district recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius, 2.6 degrees above normal, while Kannur recorded 32.6 degrees Celsius, 1.9 degrees above normal, it said.
The Kerala State Electricity Board said reduced rainfall following the El Nino phenomenon, coupled with relatively high temperatures, had kept electricity consumption in the state at a high level.
The peak demand recorded in the preceding days was comparable to levels normally seen during the summer and was around 1,100 MW higher than the demand recorded during September in previous years, the KSEB said.
The pressure on the power system was further aggravated by reduced availability of electricity through the power exchange as demand rose across the country.
The KSEB reported an unexpected reduction in power availability from central generating stations and said a 12,000-MW shortage reported at the national level had not been fully resolved.
Keralam was also unable to receive 200 MW of power that had been available from Madhya Pradesh under a swap arrangement on Monday, further adding to the shortage. The KSEB, however, managed to arrange an additional 90 MW through sustained efforts.
With the required quantity of power unavailable through the exchange and grid frequency falling, the KSEB had warned that restrictions might be necessary between 6.15 pm and 12.45 am on Monday.
A 20-minute power restriction was subsequently imposed in some parts of Thiruvananthapuram in the evening, underlining the pressure on the state’s power supply system. PTI TGB SSK
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