India's March electricity shortage worst since coal crisis in October
electricity
India'selectricityshortagefromMarch1 toMarch30 was itsworstsinceOctober, a Reuters analysis of government data shows.
A surge in power demand inMarchhas forced India to cutcoalsupplies to the non-power sector and put on hold plans for some fuel auctions for utilities without supply deals due to a slump in inventories.
Many northern states suffered hours-long power outages inOctober, when a cripplingcoalshortagecaused the worst electricity deficit in nearly five years.
Shortages in the eastern state of Jharkhand and Uttarakhand in the north surpassed those ofOctober, the latest data showed.
The western state of Gujarat, one of the country's most industrialized, has ordered a staggered shutdown of "non-continuous process" industries in key cities next week, according to a government note reviewed by Reuters.
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
'I was almost trafficked in Paris,' says Australian woman, shares terrifying ordeal - 'I am on the black market'
)
Why did India turn down the US offer for F-35 fighter jets? EXPLAINED
)
India avoids higher US tariff, secures lower 10% rate. Here's how
)
DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin detained over 'double-meaning' Trisha remark in Vijay's Tamil Nadu
)
22 children dead, 35 infected: India's Gujarat faces Chandipura virus outbreak — Experts explain symptoms
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC ODI rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Can an S-400 detect a bird?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Fifth-generation fighters': Can the S-400 shoot down an F-35?
)
Trump, Putin kissing in Amsterdam? Pride parade’s ‘couple’ goes viral | WATCH
)
Pakistan minister admits ‘system has collapsed’, Munir pushes for more provinces | Gravitas
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why are iPhones so expensive compared to Android phones?
)
Air India Phuket-Delhi flight drops 300 feet mid-air, 14 injured
)
Bombay High Court canteens inspected after judges question Maharashtra FDA's 'selective' crackdown
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
Influencer killed on livestream: Mexican cartel boss' son asked dad to kill woman who broke up with him
)
What’s happening in Nepal? How did a local clash turn into communal violence? WION Decodes
)
Scientists find descendants of ancient sea creatures trapped under Antarctica's Blood Falls
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
7 longest flights in the world - Singapore, Qantas, Qatar and others
)
Multiple WhatsApp accounts, including in India, are under review for 24 hours. Here’s why
)
Who is Devendra Nath Mahto, Jharkhand’s 'Sonam Wangchuk' fasting for protesting students?
)
PM Modi expected to visit Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as India firms up Central Asia ties
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC Test rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters in latest ICC Test rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC T20I rankings 2026 - check who sits at the top
)
'He is courageous leader': DK Shivakumar after TN CM Vijay postpone his Cauvery-related Karnataka visit
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian tanks are much lighter compared to US tanks
)
Tamil Nadu leader Udhayanidhi Stalin draws severe backlash over derogatory remark against Trisha
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian jets use heavier steel compared to US jets
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (August 3-9, 2026): Main Vaapas Aaunga, Uyir, Operation Safed Sagar- 6 titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Wipro's margins fall to 15-quarter low as AI investment eats into profit
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter pilots wear blue flight suits compared to US pilots
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How often does an S-400 need maintenance?
A Gujarat energy department official said the move was due to powershortages and to facilitate continuous power supply to farmers, adding a similar strategy was last used in 2010. He declined to comment on how long the staggered shutdown will be in place.
The official declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The southern state of Andhra Pradesh and the tourist resort state of Goa, which registered marginalshortages inOctober, suffered deficits several times larger inMarch.
The deficit inMarchwas 574 million kilowatt-hours, a measure that multiplies power level by duration, a Reuters analysis of data from federal grid regulator POSOCO showed.
That amounted to 0.5 per centof overall demand for the period, or half the deficit of 1per centinOctober.
The northern states of Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab and the eastern state of Bihar, some parts of which suffered widespread outages inOctober, accounted for most of the deficit inMarch, but shortfalls were lower, the data showed.
Watch |Gravitas: NYT misleads readers on Indian strike