India, May 23 -- An unrelenting heat wave sweeping across vast swathes of India has soared electricity demand, and the Ministry of Power on Friday urged consumers to use power wisely and judiciously.

The appeal came at a time when 97 cities of the world's 100 hottest cities recorded 45 degree plus temperature, with some clocking 48 degrees. The Government assured that it is equipped to meet the surging power demand. The biggest concern for residents is that there appears to be no immediate relief from the searing heat, with the Nautapa, a nine-day scorching heat beginning from May 25. India's daytime peak power demand touched an all-time high of 270.82 gigawatts (GW) on May 21, with the Ministry of Power saying electricity consumption ha...