New Delhi [India], April 26 (ANI): With temperatures hovering and heatwave circumstances intensifying, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday directed officers to strictly implement the Heat Wave Action Plan 2026 on the bottom.
Highlighting the rising severity of warmth circumstances, the Chief Minister identified a worrying pattern: Delhi has seen temperatures exceeding 40C for almost 40 consecutive days over the previous two to a few years. This 12 months, the federal government has carried out an in depth scientific evaluation of your entire metropolis utilizing satellite tv for pc information to establish high-risk zones.
Among essentially the most delicate areas is Ayanagar in South Delhi, which has beforehand recorded temperatures as excessive as 45.5C. Najafgarh (43.7C in 2025) and Safdarjung (46.8C in 2023) have additionally seen excessive highs. Other rising thermal hotspots embody Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, Khayala, Shastri Park, Vishwas Nagar, Harkesh Nagar, Hari Nagar and Delhi Gate.
In addition, densely populated fringe areas akin to Sawda, Mubarakpur Dabas, Bhalswa, Nand Nagri, Gokulpuri and Bakkarwala are experiencing pronounced ‘warmth island’ results. Special safety measures have been designed for these zones, together with elevated ORS stock at well being centres, deployment of Quick Response Teams, and extra water tankers.
In a notable directive, the Chief Minister requested departments, significantly DDA, the Education Department and the Delhi Jal Board, to make sure water and shade not only for individuals but additionally for animals and birds. Water containers for birds and devoted water factors for stray animals are being put in throughout parks, bus depots and college campuses.
According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), to guard college kids, the federal government could administer an ORS resolution earlier than they depart college, if required, to scale back the chance of dehydration throughout their commute. For building employees, strict measures can be enforced throughout peak warmth hours.
Outdoor work could also be halted between 12 midday and three pm throughout extreme heatwave circumstances. Workers may even be supplied with ingesting water, caps and Gamchas coverings for cover in opposition to the solar. First-aid kits and ice packs can be made out there at worksites when wanted.
Delhi can be transferring in direction of a ‘Cool Roof Policy 2026’. Reflective coating has already been utilized over almost 28,674 sq ft on the Kashmere Gate ISBT, serving to scale back indoor temperatures. To additional fight warmth, high-pressure misting programs can be put in at bus stops, whereas anti-smog weapons can be used to chill densely built-up areas.
The Health Department has positioned over 339 well being centres throughout all 13 districts on alert. More than 30 hospitals have arrange devoted five-bed ‘cool rooms’ for heatwave sufferers. Residents can search assist by means of the 24×7 helpline numbers 1077, 1070 or 112. Additionally, 39 Quick Response Teams and skilled ASHA employees are on standby. Arrangements for chilly ingesting water and ORS can be made at busy public areas, together with bus stops and terminals.
Reiterating the federal government’s agency dedication concerning energy provide, Chief Minister Gupta said that electrical energy demand within the capital may set a brand new report in the course of the summer time season this 12 months.
It is estimated that Delhi’s peak energy demand will exceed the 9,000 MW mark this season, a determine considerably greater than final 12 months’s most demand of 8,442 MW. In gentle of this large demand, we have now issued strict directives to the ability distribution firms, making it clear that any cuts in provide won’t be tolerated.
According to the Chief Minister, a particular precedence protocol has been applied to make sure uninterrupted 24×7 energy provide to vital amenities akin to hospitals, Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) and cellular towers.
The energy firms have additionally been directed to maintain extra Quick Response Teams and cellular transformers on standby to handle points associated to transformers and technical faults, thereby guaranteeing that provide may be restored instantly within the occasion of any emergency. (ANI)