LUCKNOW, April 27 -- The LESA has deployed a cooling mechanism, installing large air coolers and fans at as many as 146 substations to cool overheating transformers as a severe heatwave pushes electricity demand higher, even as frequent outages, faults and equipment failures continue to affect multiple areas. Ravi Agarwal, chief engineer, Lucknow Electricity Supply Administration (LESA), said that lowering transformer temperature improves efficiency and allows them to handle higher load without tripping. Despite these measures, at least seven transformers have been damaged in the past 15 days due to overheating and overloading. Power demand rose to 1,730 MW on Saturday, close to peak levels, putting pressure on aging infrastructure and leading to cable burnouts and sparking wires in several areas. On Sunday, residents in Rajajipuram, Hussainganj, Aminabad, Moulviganj, Nadan Mahal Road, Chowk, Sitapur Road, Kanpur Road and LDA Colony reported outages lasting two to eight hours. Residents alleged that helplines, including 1912, failed to respond, prompting protests at substations in Chinhat, Rajajipuram, Natkhera and New Defence Colony late at night. Incidents of wires catching fire and underground cable damage were reported from commercial areas such as Natkhera, Aminabad, Yahiyaganj and Moulviganj, raising safety concerns....