LUCKNOW, May 23 -- The ongoing heatwave across UP has pushed the state's power infrastructure under stress, triggering prolonged outages, transformer failures, low-voltage problems and public protests in several districts. With temperatures crossing 45degC in many areas and continuous use of air-conditioners, coolers and fans driving electricity demand to record levels, officials admitted that transformers and distribution lines are struggling to cope with the load. From Bahraich and Lakhimpur Kheri to Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Kanpur, residents have complained of hours-long power cuts, frequent tripping and delayed repair work, leaving many areas without electricity during peak daytime heat and through the night. In Bahraich, despite officials claiming all nine substations were functioning normally, residents in both urban and rural areas complained of severe disruption. Transformer breakdowns, underground cable faults and long outages were reported from localities such as Tirmuhani Road and Qila, while villagers in Fakharpur, Tejvapur and Risia alleged they were receiving barely three to ten hours of electricity daily instead of the mandated 18 hours. In Lakhimpur Kheri, where temperatures touched nearly 43degC, power demand surged by almost 40% this May compared to last year. Officials admitted that outages had extended into the night, with urban areas facing three to four hours of cuts and rural areas up to eight hours. Similar scenes unfolded in Gorakhpur, where over 15,000 residents in Rustampur endured a night-long blackout. Angry residents gathered at substations, while complaints of low voltage and repeated tripping poured in from several neighbourhoods. Prayagraj, reeling under temperatures above 45degC, witnessed transformers burning out under rising demand from cooling appliances. Officials said more than two dozen transformers were damaged this month alone. In Varanasi, transformer overloading and sparking incidents disrupted supply in over 40 localities, with some colonies remaining without electricity for nearly 12 hours. Kanpur too reported a worsening crisis, with more than 200 complaints of transformer failures and tripping in two days. In Meerut, residents marched to the mayor's residence after enduring days without electricity. Lawyers at the Meerut court complex even locked out electricity department staff and padlocked a local substation after the area remained without power for three consecutive days....