Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has launched a strong attack on the Uttar Pradesh government over the ongoing electricity crisis, blaming Power Minister A.K. Sharma and government policies for widespread power cuts during extreme heat. In a post on social media, he alleged that the “power disaster” in the state is due to corruption in the electricity department, faulty policies, and pressure on employees, and also held contractors and the ruling party leadership responsible. Meanwhile, SP workers staged protests in several parts of UP, including Moradabad, raising slogans against the government over issues like electricity shortages, rising prices, and gas costs, and submitted memorandums to authorities. The situation is worsening due to a severe heatwave across North India, with temperatures crossing 40–44°C in many regions including Lucknow, Patna, Jaipur, and Chandigarh. Public life is heavily disrupted, with people struggling due to power cuts, extreme heat, and lack of relief, while both urban and rural areas face significant hardship.


