Delhi experienced its highest-ever May peak power demand on Monday, reaching 7572 Mega Watts amidst a severe heatwave gripping the city, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 at 7438 Mega Watts and the all-time high of 7695 Mega Watts recorded on June 29, 2022.

This peak demand marks the third consecutive day that Delhi's power usage has exceeded 7000 Mega Watts, coinciding with extreme heatwave conditions prevailing across northern India. Najafgarh in the national capital recorded the country's highest temperature on Monday at 47.4 degrees Celsius.

With several areas recording temperatures above 47 degrees Celsius, the weather department issued a red alert for the next five days, indicating persisting heatwave to severe heatwave conditions.

In response, the Delhi government mandated immediate closure of schools that had not yet commenced summer vacations, directing all educational institutions to observe holidays from May 11 to June 30 for the current academic year