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Indians Riot Over Power Cuts During Heat Wave Indians Riot Over Power Cuts During Heat Wave
(3 months later)
LUCKNOW, India — Thousands of people enraged by power cuts during an extreme heat wave rioted across northern India, setting electricity substations on fire and taking power company officials hostage, officials said Saturday. LUCKNOW, India — Thousands of people enraged by power cuts during an extreme heat wave rioted across northern India, setting electricity substations on fire and taking power company officials hostage, officials said Saturday.
The impoverished state of Uttar Pradesh has never had enough power for its 200 million people, and many receive only a few hours a day under normal conditions, while 63 percent of homes have no access to electricity at all.The impoverished state of Uttar Pradesh has never had enough power for its 200 million people, and many receive only a few hours a day under normal conditions, while 63 percent of homes have no access to electricity at all.
But recent temperatures that soared to 117 degrees Fahrenheit have caused the demand for power to spike at 11,000 megawatts — far higher than the state’s capacity of 8,000 megawatts — setting off blackouts that shut down fans, city water pumps and air-conditioners.But recent temperatures that soared to 117 degrees Fahrenheit have caused the demand for power to spike at 11,000 megawatts — far higher than the state’s capacity of 8,000 megawatts — setting off blackouts that shut down fans, city water pumps and air-conditioners.
Thousands of people stormed an electricity substation on Friday near the state capital, Lucknow, ransacking offices and taking several workers hostage for 18 hours until the police intervened Saturday morning, said a state utility official, Narendra Nath Mullick.Thousands of people stormed an electricity substation on Friday near the state capital, Lucknow, ransacking offices and taking several workers hostage for 18 hours until the police intervened Saturday morning, said a state utility official, Narendra Nath Mullick.
Elsewhere, an angry crowd set fire to an electricity substation in Gonda, 112 miles southeast of Lucknow. It took three hours for firefighters to put out the flames on Friday. Another substation was set on fire in Gorakhpur, 200 miles southeast of Lucknow.Elsewhere, an angry crowd set fire to an electricity substation in Gonda, 112 miles southeast of Lucknow. It took three hours for firefighters to put out the flames on Friday. Another substation was set on fire in Gorakhpur, 200 miles southeast of Lucknow.
Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, said officials were trying to buy power from other states, though they were also facing shortages amid the extreme heat.Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, said officials were trying to buy power from other states, though they were also facing shortages amid the extreme heat.
Power was largely restored to most areas by Saturday afternoon, leading dozens of people who were still protesting outside the Indira Nagar substation in Lucknow to go home.Power was largely restored to most areas by Saturday afternoon, leading dozens of people who were still protesting outside the Indira Nagar substation in Lucknow to go home.
Residents had been particularly angry about the power cuts after receiving reliable supplies through the Indian elections, which ended on May 16. Since then, only some regions have been guaranteed unbroken power supplies, while others have received little to no supply.Residents had been particularly angry about the power cuts after receiving reliable supplies through the Indian elections, which ended on May 16. Since then, only some regions have been guaranteed unbroken power supplies, while others have received little to no supply.