24x7 power or frequent outages? India Today reality check across 22 UP districts

As Uttar Pradesh reels under intense heatwave conditions with temperatures crossing 45 degrees Celsius in several districts, complaints of power cuts and tripping have surfaced from across the state. Even as the state government claims power supply is being maintained as per prescribed standards, India Today’s reality check across 22 districts found a mixed ground situation.

The Uttar Pradesh government maintains that rural areas are receiving 18 hours of power supply, urban areas and district headquarters 24 hours, and tehsil and municipal areas around 21.5 hours. However, residents in many districts reported frequent outages, tripping, low voltage and prolonged cuts, especially during peak night hours.

WHAT MINISTER AK SHARMA SAID

Uttar Pradesh Energy Minister A K Sharma on May 25 and May 26 claimed that the state had achieved record-breaking electricity supply.

According to Sharma, Uttar Pradesh recorded a peak power supply of 31,804 MW on May 25 at 10:39 pm, which increased to 31,824 MW the following day — the highest ever not only in the state but in the country.

The minister said that “forgetting the established roster system,” 24-hour electricity was supplied across the state, while rural areas received 22 to 22.5 hours of electricity. He also stated that electricity workers were working round the clock to resolve disruptions caused by technical faults, natural causes or human error.

However, India Today’s ground report from multiple districts presents a mixed picture.

LUCKNOW

Amid the power crisis in Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow’s famous Chikan embroidery industry is also feeling the impact. Frequent power cuts have created major difficulties for artisans engaged in embroidery work. Artisans told India Today that several areas in Old Lucknow are witnessing outages lasting up to six hours, leading to delays in supplying products to malls. However, compared to earlier, the overall situation in Lucknow has improved, with power-related problems now mainly confined to Dubagga, Nigohan and parts of Old Lucknow.

Artisans in Old Lucknow said that without fans, excessive sweating affects the delicate embroidery work. They explained that if their fingers sweat while working, fine craftsmanship becomes difficult. Adequate lighting is also essential to clearly see intricate designs on the fabric. In addition, clean water is needed for washing the garments, but due to power cuts, submersible pumps are not functioning properly, causing further delays. The final stage of the process involves ironing the clothes, which also requires electricity.

Sanjog Garg, a Chikan embroidery trader from Chowk, told India Today that most workshops are located in Old Lucknow and electricity disruptions there are causing nearly a 20 percent delay in product supply. However, power supply in commercial shop areas across the rest of the city has improved compared to earlier.

GORAKHPUR

As Gorakhpur is the home district of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, both urban and rural areas are largely receiving round-the-clock electricity supply. However, residents in rural areas say brief power cuts still occur occasionally.

Ramanand, a resident of Rudrapur Pasi Tola, said electricity is generally available throughout the day and night, but there are occasional short-duration outages. Another villager, struggling in the intense heat, said that whenever power cuts occur, residents are forced to rely on handheld fans to cope with the heat.

Chief Engineer Pankaj Agrawal from the electricity department said that there are instructions to provide 24-hour power supply in both urban and rural areas of Gorakhpur, and these are being followed. He added that if any fault is detected in urban or rural areas, it is being repaired immediately to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.

ETAWAH

Amid the intense heat in Etawah, uninterrupted power supply has been affected due to frequent tripping and overloading issues in the electricity network. Residents say the system collapses whenever the load increases, while repeated nighttime tripping has added to public distress.

In rural areas, electricity supply is limited to around 18 hours, with scheduled roster-based cuts being imposed in different regions. In the Ekdil area, residents reported rotational power cuts of nearly two hours during the evening and night. Similarly, areas in Bakewar are facing scheduled outages during early morning and nighttime hours. Overall, rural areas are witnessing nearly six hours of power cuts daily.

Urban areas are also facing problems due to continuous tripping at night. Residents say that from around 7 pm to 11 pm, electricity supply is repeatedly interrupted, with outages lasting anywhere between five minutes and over half an hour. If tripping and shutdown periods are combined, several parts of the city are effectively facing two to three hours of outages despite claims of 24-hour electricity supply. Consumers say overloading and repeated tripping are disrupting smooth supply during nighttime hours.

Etawah Electricity Department Superintending Engineer Rishabh Dev said power demand in the district has increased significantly compared to last year due to rising temperatures. He said continuous load increase is leading to tripping, while blown fuses often require shutdowns, further adding to disruptions.

He also pointed to increased use of induction cooktops amid gas shortages and heavy use of air conditioners at night as reasons for load imbalance. According to him, the department is trying to maintain better supply in line with available electricity. He added that teams are also working round the clock to prevent electricity theft.

The official maintained that rural areas are receiving 18 hours of electricity supply, though roster-based nighttime cuts may inconvenience some consumers. He also said urban areas are being provided 24-hour supply, but shutdowns become necessary due to overloading and tripping issues.

CHANDAULI

Residents said the electricity supply has been fairly adequate, with most areas receiving around 17 to 18 hours of power daily. However, frequent tripping and sudden outages in between are making conditions unbearable amid the intense heat.

Satish, a resident of Sahajour village in Chandauli district, said they receive around 17 to 18 hours of electricity every day. According to him, power cuts usually take place between 8 pm and 10 pm at night. Electricity is cut again around 6 am and restored only by 10:30 am before going off once more in the evening. He said that while the overall supply adds up to 17-18 hours, sudden tripping during the night causes major inconvenience in the scorching heat.

BANDA

Amid the intense heatwave in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, people are struggling with severe electricity problems as temperatures soar to 48 degrees Celsius. While officials are advising residents to stay indoors to avoid the extreme heat, many households are facing prolonged power outages, worsening the situation.

Recently, anger erupted in the Bijli Kheda area at the district headquarters after residents faced extended electricity cuts. Protesters blocked roads and created a ruckus, forcing authorities to step in and issue directions to improve the power supply system.

Officials claim that electricity is being supplied according to the prescribed roster, but residents allege that power cuts are continuing in the name of overloading and technical faults. The situation in rural areas is reportedly even worse.

SAHARANPUR

The intense heatwave in Saharanpur has made life difficult for residents, with temperatures consistently hovering around 44 degrees Celsius. People are finding little relief, whether during the day or at night, and frequent power cuts have only added to their misery.

In several parts of the city, electricity outages are lasting nearly six hours in a 24-hour period, while conditions in rural areas are even worse, with cuts stretching from eight to ten hours. Struggling in the extreme heat, residents are being deprived of even basic relief such as fans, coolers and adequate water supply.

Nighttime outages are proving especially difficult for children, the elderly and sick people. Continuous power cuts have severely disrupted daily life, and public anger against the electricity department is steadily growing.

SAMBHAL

The power situation in Sambhal district has shown some improvement over the past two days compared to the previous two weeks. However, electricity supply is still falling short of the prescribed standards.

Over the last 15 days, both urban and rural areas in the district had been facing major disruptions in power supply, causing widespread inconvenience to residents. However, electricity conditions appeared to improve significantly two days ahead of the visit of Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak to Sambhal on Monday.

Despite the improvement, rural areas are receiving only around 14 to 15 hours of electricity instead of the promised 18 hours, while urban areas are getting power supply for nearly 20 hours a day.

DEORIA

In Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, residents are struggling due to unscheduled power cuts and frequent electrical faults amid the intense heatwave. The outages are causing severe inconvenience to people already battling scorching temperatures.

In the city’s Uma Nagar area, electricity supply had not been restored to nearly four dozen homes even after 24 hours. Residents said they are not receiving uninterrupted power even for two continuous hours, with repeated outages becoming a daily problem.

The situation in rural areas is said to be even worse. In more than half a dozen villages under the Khukhundu power substation, electricity supply was cut at around 3 pm on Monday and restored only around 11 pm.

Public anger also erupted in around 50 households in Nadawar Ghat under the Salempur power station area, where electricity supply has reportedly remained disrupted for the past 10 days.

BIJNOR

The electricity situation in Bijnor remains most severe in rural areas, where farmers allege that scheduled power cuts are not only disrupting daily life but also putting their crops at risk of drying up.

In urban areas, however, power supply is relatively stable. Residents say electricity supply at the district headquarters remains largely uninterrupted unless there is a technical fault. At the tehsil level, though, people are facing power cuts of three to four hours. Consumers allege that the electricity department often attributes these outages to line faults rather than acknowledging them as power cuts.

The situation in rural areas is considerably worse, with residents reporting several hours of unscheduled outages every day.

MAHOBA

In Mahoba district of the Bundelkhand region, soaring temperatures touching 45 degrees Celsius and frequent power cuts have made life extremely difficult for residents. Despite strict government directives, people in Mahoba continue to suffer from unscheduled electricity outages during both day and night.

While the electricity department claims the city is receiving nearly 23 hours and 55 minutes of power supply, the ground reality appears far removed from these assertions. Although the government’s stated aim is to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply, residents say unscheduled outages continue unabated.

JHANSI

Amid the intense heatwave and rising temperatures, residents of Jhansi are also struggling with unscheduled power cuts. Locals say the district headquarters is receiving barely 17 to 18 hours of electricity supply, and even that is disrupted by frequent tripping.

Residents complain that there is no fixed schedule for power cuts, despite the government’s claim of providing 24-hour electricity supply. The situation worsens at night, with outages often occurring just as people prepare to sleep. Locals also allege that electricity department officials do not answer calls when complaints are made about the disruptions.

PRATAPGARH

In Pratapgarh, the gap between the electricity department’s claims and the ground reality is clearly visible in the suffering of residents battling the heat. Whether it is the Dahilamau sub-station or other power substations in the district, faults caused by dilapidated infrastructure and overloading have become a daily occurrence.

Consumers say that despite paying their electricity bills on time, they are receiving barely 10 to 15 hours of power supply. The crisis worsened further on Thursday night when a pressure current transformer (CT) installed in a 33 KV supply panel at the 220 KV transmission complex in Bhupiyamau suddenly exploded.

The technical fault severely affected around 13 electricity substations. The outage, which began around 9 pm, plunged the entire district into darkness for nearly five hours. Amid the scorching heat, the prolonged blackout made life extremely difficult for residents.

KANPUR

Amid claims of 24-hour electricity supply in Uttar Pradesh’s cities, the ground reality in Kanpur paints a different picture. Residents in the city’s 80 Feet Road area were seen struggling due to prolonged power outages during the intense heatwave.

With electricity disrupted since morning, both businesses and daily life were severely affected. At banquet halls, people were seen fanning themselves by hand after lights and fans stopped working. Hotel and banquet hall operators said they were being forced to run generators, leading to increased expenses.

The power crisis also affected bookshops, where shopkeepers were forced to sit without electricity for hours. Local traders said prolonged power cuts were causing financial losses and disrupting business activities.

MUZAFFARNAGAR

The power situation in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh has shown significant improvement over the past few days. At present, consumers in rural areas are receiving around 18 to 20 hours of electricity supply, while urban areas are getting power for nearly 20 to 22 hours a day.

District officials say their target is to ensure 24-hour electricity supply to residents. However, due to the extreme heat, faults in electrical machinery are occurring frequently. To prevent overheating, fans and coolers have been installed at several locations to keep the equipment cool.

Officials also said that if temperatures rise further, water sprinklers may be used on electrical machinery to avoid faults caused by overheating.

According to local residents, brief power cuts were common during the daytime until about five days ago, but the situation has improved considerably since then, with the power supply system now appearing largely stable.

PRAYAGRAJ

Residents in several areas of Prayagraj, including Kareli, Naya Purwa, Dhoomanganj, Sulemsarai and Ashok Nagar, are facing persistent electricity problems. Frequent nighttime power cuts are causing severe discomfort to people amid the intense heat.

With electricity outages continuing, residents are struggling to cope with the soaring temperatures. According to the electricity department’s Chief Engineer Rajesh Kumar, there is no scheduled power cut in the city. He said outages are occurring in some areas due to technical faults triggered by the extreme heat.

He maintained that Prayagraj is receiving adequate electricity supply overall, but overloading is causing disruptions in certain locations. However, with temperatures touching 46 degrees Celsius, even brief power cuts are leaving residents distressed.

FIROZABAD

Several areas of Prayagraj, including Kareli, Naya Purwa, Dhoomanganj, Sulemsarai and Ashok Nagar, are witnessing frequent power disruptions, leaving residents troubled amid the scorching heat. Repeated nighttime outages are making conditions especially difficult for people struggling with soaring temperatures.

Chief Engineer of the electricity department, Rajesh Kumar, said there are no scheduled power cuts in the city and attributed the outages to technical faults caused by excessive heat and overloading in some areas.

While officials insist that Prayagraj is receiving adequate electricity supply overall, residents say even short power cuts are becoming unbearable as temperatures touch 46 degrees Celsius.

AYODHYA

Amid intense heat and continuously rising temperatures, Ayodhya’s power supply system appears to be under severe strain. Frequent power cuts across several parts of the city are causing major inconvenience to residents. Locals claim that even in urban areas, electricity supply is limited to barely 14 to 15 hours a day. Sudden outages, both during the day and at night, are severely disrupting daily life.

The electricity department, however, says the sharp rise in power demand due to the extreme heat has led to overloading, forcing temporary disruptions in supply at several places.

The situation in rural areas is even more concerning. Villagers say they are receiving only 10 to 12 hours of electricity, with no fixed schedule for power cuts. Frequent outages during the day as well as late at night are making it extremely difficult for people to cope with the heat and humidity.

MEERUT

The power crisis in Meerut continues unabated, with residents claiming that the situation has not improved despite the Chief Minister’s directives. People say frequent power cuts are continuing, with outages often lasting for several hours.

Meerut shopkeeper Nizam said even now fans are running on inverters because electricity remains unavailable. “The Chief Minister’s orders are good, but officials are not implementing them,” he said. Another resident, Rajendra Kumar, claimed that electricity supply is limited to only 10 to 12 hours a day and that there has been no visible improvement after the government’s instructions.

Resident Sanjeev Tomar said the situation remains difficult, especially at night. “Children are unable to sleep properly. Electricity comes for 10 minutes and then goes off again,” he said.

In Meerut city, residents report power cuts lasting around three to four hours daily, while in some areas outages extend up to six to seven hours. In rural areas, people claim they are facing power cuts of nearly 10 to 12 hours every day.

ALIGARH

In Aligarh, the electricity department has been unable to ensure smooth power supply even in urban areas. Amid the intense heat, residents across the city are facing severe inconvenience due to frequent outages. Power cuts across feeders connected to various substations have triggered widespread anger against the electricity department.

Officials at all levels of the department are part of WhatsApp groups created to address urban power-related complaints and their resolution. However, residents say the situation has worsened, with low voltage issues and repeated tripping making life extremely difficult in the scorching heat.

On the Vikram Colony feeder alone, electricity reportedly tripped more than 10 times within an hour on Tuesday night. Residents say similar conditions prevail across most parts of the city.

SITAPUR

With temperatures continuing to rise, the power crisis in Sitapur district is becoming increasingly severe. In urban areas, residents are struggling with power cuts lasting 8 to 10 hours, along with constant tripping caused by voltage fluctuations. The situation is even worse in rural areas, where frequent outages during both day and night are causing major hardship for residents.

People in villages say continuous power cuts due to repeated tripping have made daily life extremely difficult amid the intense heat.

Meanwhile, electricity department officials have avoided giving a clear response on the issue. They maintain that no additional cuts are being imposed from their end and claim that supply is being distributed according to the electricity received from the power grid.

JAUNPUR

The Uttar Pradesh government claims that urban areas are receiving 24-hour electricity supply, while rural areas are being provided 18 hours of power. However, the ground reality in Jaunpur appears to be quite different.

Frequent power cuts are being reported even at the Jaunpur district headquarters, with repeated tripping and low-voltage issues disrupting electricity supply. Residents say the extreme heat has become unbearable due to the erratic power situation, and large numbers of people are facing difficulties because of recurring outages.

Heavy power cuts are being witnessed not only in urban areas but also across rural parts of Jaunpur, where residents say the supply remains far below the government’s claims.

AZAMGARH

Electricity supply has emerged as a major issue in Azamgarh. While authorities claim that urban areas are receiving 24-hour power supply, residents in rural areas continue to struggle with irregular supply, low voltage and frequent faults.

In urban parts of Azamgarh, residents say overloaded transformers, local faults, damaged power lines and sudden tripping are among the biggest problems. Complaints of repeated outages increase during the evening hours when electricity consumption rises sharply.

The situation in rural areas is even more challenging. Long feeders, poor condition of wires, transformer burnouts and persistent low-voltage issues have become common problems, affecting farming activities, drinking water supply and routine household work.

VARANASI

Varanasi is currently grappling with a double blow of extreme heat and unscheduled power cuts. Amid record-breaking temperatures in May 2026, the district’s power demand has surged to 915 MW, compared to 896 MW recorded in June last year. Areas such as Sigra and Shivpur in the city are witnessing hours of frequent tripping, while the situation in rural regions is even more severe, with some villages facing day-long outages that have deepened the drinking water crisis.

Overloading has led to transformer failures, resulting in power supply gaps ranging from four to eight hours in several areas. The ongoing crisis has disrupted daily life, with residents demanding immediate intervention from the administration. Frequent tripping and low-voltage issues are being reported across almost every part of the city.

In rural areas, the situation remains particularly alarming, with electricity being cut for several hours without prior notice. Incidents of transformers burning out have increased, and delays in replacing them have further worsened the drinking water shortage in villages.

GOVERNMENT MAINTAINS SUPPLY AS PER NORMS

Across districts, electricity department officials consistently maintained that there is no shortage of power supply from the state’s side and that most disruptions are due to local faults, tripping, overloading, damaged transformers, storms or infrastructure stress caused by record electricity demand during the ongoing heatwave.

However, the ground reality across several districts suggests that despite record supply figures claimed by the government, consumers continue to struggle with frequent outages, low voltage and heat-induced disruptions during one of the hottest periods of the year.