Power Crisis Grips Northern Region as Demand Peaks

The northern region of India faced a severe power crisis as multiple tripping incidents were reported following a surge in demand to 89.4 gigawatts (GW), resulting in a significant supply gap of 16.5 GW. States like Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Jammu & Kashmir were particularly affected by the incidents, which were exacerbated by the tripping of crucial transmission lines and generating units.

The NRLDC reported that the tripping of the +/-800 kV HVDC Champa-Kurukshetra link led to widespread low voltages across the region, necessitating load reductions. Despite efforts to restore normalcy by 14:30 hours and fully repair all tripped elements by 16:00 hours, the incident underscored the region’s vulnerability during peak demand periods, prompting calls for immediate government intervention and proactive measures from industry stakeholders like the AIPEF.