New Delhi, July 2 -- As a heat wave bears down on a major part of the United States, it is putting significant pressure on the nation's electrical grid, thus prompting the Department of Energy to declare an emergency. Notably, around 160 million people in 30 states have been put on alert amid rising temperatures.

An Energy Emergency Alert was issued by Chris Wright, the US Secretary of Energy, who directed PJM Interconnections in the Mid-Atlantic region, which is the biggest electrical grid in the country, to ensure that blackouts are prevented and essential services like hospitals remain fully operational amid the heat wave.

In a statement issued by Wright on Tuesday (local time), he said, "Maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure ...