The Narendra Modi government has started pressing the panic buttons after a blazing heat wave rippled across the country — with the misery of the people in at least five states exacerbated by an acute electricity shortage as coal inventories sank to critical levels in 106 of the 173 thermal power plants.
On Friday, the Indian Railways swung into action and cancelled 753 trips by mail, express and passenger trains in a desperate attempt to prioritise the movement of coal rakes.
At the same time, the Centre pleaded with the state governments of coal-starved power plants to start importing coal — the second time it has made such a request in recent weeks.
