India cancels passenger trains to transport coal to power stations

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) – India on Friday canceled more than 600 passenger trains, diverting them to carry coal to power stations in the wake of rising power demand and shortage of coal in the country.

An intense heat than normal during this summer season and the power outage has left people sweltering over the past several days in many parts of India.

The power demand of the country reached an all-time high of 201.066 GW on April 26, said the power ministry in a statement.

The ministry also said that in May-June, the demand is likely to hover between 215 GW and 220 GW.

The power minister of the capital city of Delhi Satyendra Jain said that the power stations supplying power to the city have been left with just a day of coal reserves. He said the shortage can cause blackouts and interrupt crucial services in the capital.

But the federal Coal Minister Prahlad Joshi, while talking to reporters said the country’s thermal plants have about 22 million tons of coal which are enough for 10 days.

“The power demand has increased due to demands from various sectors in an economy which was now growing fast after the slowdown caused by COVID-19,” he said.

The country relies on coal to meet its electricity demands. So many states have been left with no option but to begin power cuts to tackle the situation.

India Meteorological Department has predicted temperatures above 43 degrees Celsius in many states.

Delhi will also continue to face an intense heatwave with the maximum temperature expected to touch 44 degrees Celsius on Friday.