Category: Climate & Nature

In New Delhi, the demand for electricity this winter has jumped to a new record. On Tuesday morning, it went past 5000 MW for the first time in December, reaching 5213 MW at 10:50 am. The State Load Dispatch Centre (SLDC) predicts that the demand could go up to 6300 MW, which would be the highest for this winter season.

The colder temperatures are causing people to use more electricity, and this winter’s demand is starting to look like the highest-ever demand seen last summer, which reached 8656 MW. The two main power companies, BSES RajdhPower Limited (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL), were able to provide enough power for everyone in their areas.

Last winter, the highest peak was 5816 MW. This year, BRPL and BYPL expect to see their winters hit 2600 MW and 1240 MW, respectively. Last year in December, the peak was 4964 MW, showing that demand is steadily increasing.

To handle this rising power need, the BSES companies are working hard on planning. They focus on understanding how much power is needed, improving their distribution networks, and ensuring that over 5 million consumers get reliable electricity all year round.

BSES has also secured over 2000 MW of renewable energy, which is good for the environment. This includes solar, wind, hydro, and other green energy sources. This green energy can provide about 53% of the peak winter power demand that is expected to be around 3900 MW.

To be ready for sudden increases in demand, BSES is prepared to buy extra power if necessary. They are also banking surplus power with other states, which they can use in summer when demand is high. BRPL aims to bank 210 MW, while BYPL wants to bank up to 575 MW, helping states like Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu that supported Delhi during high summer demand.

Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, visited his constituency, Ganderbal, on Saturday to see how people were doing after the snowfall. He wanted to check on the situation and see how the local government was helping the citizens.

First, he made an unannounced visit to the district hospital to see if it was ready to help patients. He spoke with doctors, nurses, and people being treated there. He stressed how important it was to provide continuous medical services, especially during tough times. He asked about heating, staff availability, medicines, and other important facilities.

Next, he went to the mini-secretariat to discuss the situation with local officials. During a meeting with divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners, Abdullah talked about clearing snow from roads and restoring water and power supplies. He instructed everyone to act quickly to keep essential services running smoothly.

After meeting with reporters, Abdullah mentioned, “I came here to ensure that people don’t have too much trouble because of the snow. I want to speed up the snow-clearing on roads and restore electricity as soon as possible.” He also added that he is keeping an eye on other areas affected by the snowfall. He promised that electricity would be restored by Saturday evening in some areas and that efforts are underway to clear blocked roads. For areas without water supply, he assured that immediate actions would be taken, and water tankers would be sent where needed.

On Thursday, the Directorate of Education announced that all government and private schools in the capital city can return to regular classroom learning. This decision was made after the Supreme Court changed air quality rules to a less strict level, allowing for normal activities again.

The Supreme Court told the Commission for Air Quality Management that if the air quality index (AQI) goes above 350 or 400, they should quickly bring back tougher measures. The court will keep an eye on how these air quality rules are applied in the city.

The Directorate of Education’s notice stated that all types of schools—government, government-aided, and private—were previously told to switch to online classes starting from November 17. However, this order is no longer in effect. Now, all schools must conduct classes in-person immediately. School leaders must also inform students, teachers, and parents about this change.

On Thursday, the air quality in the capital improved, with an AQI recorded at 161, which is in the ‘moderate’ range. For context, an AQI from 0 to 50 is ‘good’, 51 to 100 is ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 is ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 is ‘poor’, 301 to 400 is ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 is ‘severe’.

Online classes were introduced on November 17 due to dangerously poor air quality, but high school students in Grades 10 and 12 were also moved online on November 18.

When air quality was rated at ‘severe plus’, some strict rules were set in place, like limiting diesel vehicles to those carrying important goods only. Other trucks and light commercial vehicles were prevented from entering the city unless they used cleaner fuel.

Similarly, offices in the Delhi NCR region were asked to run at half capacity, meaning half the employees worked in the office, while the others worked from home. Many businesses followed this advice.

Now that the situation has improved with the air quality, the restrictions have eased, but the use of coal and firewood, like in restaurants or open eateries, is still not allowed.

Many areas in Tamil Nadu were hit hard by heavy rains, causing flooding, damaged roads, and a lack of basic supplies. In Villupuram district, people in Arasur ran out of essential items and protested for help. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to ask about the situation and promised support from the central government.

Cyclone Fengal caused serious damage across 14 districts, ruining roads and electricity lines and causing major flooding. This storm led to the loss of 12 lives and destroyed countless homes, huts, and livestock. It also harmed local crops and irrigation systems.

In Arasur, 18 people who had to take shelter in a damaged temple were rescued. Similarly, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) helped evacuate people and animals in Cuddalore district. A sad incident in Thiruvannamalai district resulted in the death of seven people, including five children, when a boulder crushed their house after rolling down from Annamalaiyar Hill due to mudslides. Their bodies were found after a long rescue operation.

State Minister E.V. Velu visited the rescue sites and noted that the area had never experienced mudslides before, despite heavy rains since 1965. Schools in the Nilgiris, Ranipet, Salem, and Thiruvannamalai districts remained closed because of the situation. Chief Minister Stalin met with officials to discuss the damage and promised to speed up relief efforts.

Due to heavy rain from Cyclone Fengal, all government and private schools, along with colleges in Puducherry, will be closed on Tuesday, December 3. Education Minister A. Namachivayam made this announcement.

To help those affected by the cyclone, Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy shared that the government will give relief money of ₹5,000 to every household with a ration card that was impacted. Puducherry received a surprising 48% more rain than usual, which damaged about 10,000 hectares of crops. Farmers who lost their crops will receive ₹30,000 for each hectare impacted.

Cyclone Fengal has caused a lot of damage in both Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Flooding has damaged 50 boats, and the government will also provide ₹10,000 to help with repairs.

In particular, the Sankaraparani River in Puducherry saw severe flooding. Over 200 homes in NR Nagar were underwater, leaving many residents stranded. The Indian Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are working hard to rescue those in trouble, using boats to navigate the flooded areas and bring people to safety.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned on Monday that Kerala will have heavy rain because of cyclone Fengal. This cyclone is now a strong low-pressure area over northern Tamil Nadu and is expected to grow stronger as it moves towards the Arabian Sea, passing through northern Kerala and Karnataka by December 3.

Rainfall Forecast in Kerala
Today, the IMD predicts light to moderate rainfall in most parts of Kerala, with some areas likely to see very heavy rain and thunderstorms. Tomorrow, heavy rain is expected in the northern and central parts of the state, along with some light to moderate rain and occasional thunderstorms over the next five days.

Weather Alerts for Multiple Districts
Red alerts are in place for five northern districts: Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Malappuram, due to heavy rains. Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki, and Ernakulam districts are under an orange alert, while Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta have a yellow alert.

School Holidays in Affected Areas
Due to the weather, the district administration in Kasaragod announced that all schools, including professional colleges, tuition centers, anganwadis, and madrasas, will have a holiday on Tuesday. However, model residential schools will remain open. Similar holidays were also announced on Monday in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, and Wayanad districts.

Government Advice
Kerala’s Revenue Minister K Rajan urged everyone to be careful as rain is expected to get stronger in northern Kerala. According to the IMD, a red alert means very heavy rainfall over 20 cm in 24 hours. An orange alert means rain between 11 cm and 20 cm, while a yellow alert warns of rain between 6 cm and 11 cm.

Residents are advised to stay informed about the weather and follow local instructions.

Bengaluru and nearby areas in South Interior Karnataka are getting ready for heavy rain on December 2, 2024. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that this rain could be very intense and might cause some issues. This weather is mainly because of cyclone Fengal, which hit the Tamil Nadu coast on the night of November 30.

As for schools in Bengaluru, there hasn’t been any official announcement about closing them yet. For now, schools and colleges will be open as usual. Many people on social media are asking for schools to close. One concerned parent mentioned, “Why hasn’t the government declared a holiday for schools? It’s horrible weather.” Another user tweeted, “Please declare a holiday today for schools in Bengaluru. It’s raining a lot, and we’re scared to send our kids to school.”

The heavy rain in Bengaluru is linked to the cyclonic storm. According to the weather experts, this storm will move west-northwest and weaken into a well-marked low-pressure area over north interior Tamil Nadu within the next six hours. This low-pressure area will then move out to the Arabian Sea near the north Kerala-Karnataka coasts around December 3.

Kerala is also preparing for heavy rains. The IMD has warned that extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Kerala and Mahe, and they are advising people to stay safe. Besides Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are also on alert for very heavy rainfall. The coastal areas of Karnataka and the Rayalaseema region are expected to receive heavy showers too.

Heavy rain struck several areas in Tamil Nadu after Cyclone Fengal made landfall on November 30. The worst-hit area is Cuddalore, where many homes are underwater and rescue teams are using boats to help people escape. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), led by district collector Balaraman, is busy rescuing those trapped in the floods.

In Chinna Gangankuppam, near the Cuddalore-Puducherry border, disaster teams managed to clear a large tree that had fallen on the national highway using heavy machinery. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Fengal landed on the coasts of Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and has remained almost stationary for six hours, about 30 kilometers north of Cuddalore.

As of early morning, the cyclone is about 120 kilometers south-southwest of Chennai. It is expected to slowly move westward and weaken into a deep depression over northern Tamil Nadu and Puducherry within the next few hours. The IMD has warned of severe weather, issuing a red alert for northern Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and nearby parts of Andhra Pradesh.

According to Puducherry’s Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, the Union Territory received 50 centimeters of rain overnight, causing serious flooding in the city. He stated, “We are inspecting the flood-affected areas, and rescue teams are working hard to help those stuck in the water.”

To assist in the rescue, Indian Army troops from the Chennai Garrison were called in early Sunday morning. The troops were requested around 1 a.m., and a team of about 70 soldiers, led by Major Ajay Sangwan, quickly traveled 160 kilometers to reach Puducherry by 5:30 a.m.

Upon arrival, they found the Krishna Nagar area severely flooded, with water levels reaching nearly five feet, leaving around 500 homes stranded. The army began rescue operations at 6:15 a.m. and successfully evacuated over 100 people within the first two hours.

A scary incident happened at Chennai airport when an IndiGo Airlines Airbus A320 neo faced trouble due to Cyclone Fengal on Saturday evening. A video shared online shows the plane almost landing but then suddenly taking off again. The pilot decided not to land at the last second when the wheels were just inches above the runway. As Cyclone Fengal hit Chennai, heavy rains caused many problems, flooding homes and hospitals.

The airport announced it would be closed until 4 AM on Sunday, December 1, 2024, advising travelers to check with their airlines about their flights. The viral video of the IndiGo flight caught a lot of attention, receiving over 100,000 views. Many people expressed their opinions online. Some said the pilot made a risky choice not to land, while others praised the quick decision-making.

IndiGo responded to the video, explaining that the plane’s crew did a “go-around,” a normal safety practice when landing isn’t safe. They assured passengers that their safety is their top priority.

Cyclone Fengal hit the north coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry late that night, bringing strong winds and rain. The storm is expected to weaken soon. The Indian Army and a disaster response force began helping those affected around 6 AM on Sunday.