Lucknow: A major electricity disruption caused by burnt wires and a fire-related fault left residents of Prem Nagar, Sneh Nagar and Visheshwar Nagar in Lucknow without power for more than 24 hours, amid the intense summer heat. The prolonged blackout triggered chaos across residential localities as families struggled without fans, water supply, internet connectivity and basic household facilities throughout the day and night.It also severely affected daily life, work, healthcare and education.According to residents, electricity supply went off around 1 am on May 20 and was restored only by nearly 10 am on the morning of May 21 in several parts of the affected areas. The outage left hundreds in immense discomfort as temperatures and the humidity remained high. Temperatures in this time ranged between 31°C and 42°C. Many residents spent sleepless nights sitting outside their homes, on rooftops or near parks in an attempt to get relief from the heat.उपभोक्ताओं को भरोसेमंद और सुचारु बिजली उपलब्ध कराने के लिए विभागीय टीमें सतत रूप से मेंटेनेंस कार्य कर रही हैं। सुरक्षित और स्थिर आपूर्ति बनाए रखना ही हमारी सबसे बड़ी प्राथमिकता है।#UPPCL #Maintenance@CMOfficeUP @EMofficeUP @aksharmaBharat @mduppcl pic.twitter.com/5iQtRQBFr5— UPPCL (@UPPCLLKO) May 21, 2026An official from the technical department of the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited who identified himself as Anirudhya said the disruption occurred after some wires burned and triggered a fire-related fault in the supply line on May 20, affecting power supply across multiple localities for over 24 hours. The Wire spoke to seven officials at the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited who helped establish that the fire later spread to a transformer, resulting in a massive blaze and severe damage to the electricity infrastructure in the area. Officials stated that repair work continued throughout the day as damaged wires and transformer connections had to be repaired and replaced before supply could be safely restored.Locals claimed that sparks and smoke were noticed in some sections before the electricity supply completely snapped.In Prem Nagar, residents said daily life came to a complete standstill due to the prolonged power cut. Water pumps stopped functioning, mobile phones ran out of charge and food items stored in refrigerators began to spoil. Several residents alleged that the absence of timely communication from the electricity department further worsened panic and confusion among families.Residents also alleged negligence on the part of the electricity department during the prolonged outage. Several locals claimed that repeatedly calling the department’s helpline numbers proved futile as the line was either busy or calls went unanswered. Some residents alleged that after making nearly 35 to 40 consecutive calls, one would finally connect, but no proper response was provided by officials. They further claimed that at certain points, the phones were allegedly switched off, leaving residents without any information or assistance during the crisis.‘Heat and mosquitoes’Children and elderly residents were among the worst affected. Many senior citizens complained of breathing discomfort and sleeplessness due to the heat and lack of ventilation. Families with infants also faced major inconvenience as electric appliances, coolers and water purifiers stopped functioning for long hours.Ansh, a school-going student residing in Sneh Nagar who is currently preparing for his board examinations, said the prolonged outage disrupted his studies and daily routine for two consecutive days. “I could not sleep properly because of the heat and mosquitoes. There was no water at home in the morning and I had to miss school. Managing studies and board exam preparation became very difficult during the power cut,” he said.Archana Singh, who manages her home in Visheshwar Nagar, described the situation as exhausting. “Nothing was working at home. The inverter also stopped after a few hours. I could not cook food because there was no electricity or water supply. All household chores are pending, including washing clothes and cleaning utensils,” she said.Many who manage the home stated that managing households became nearly impossible without electricity and water. Residents said milk and other perishable food items spoiled due to non-functional refrigerators, resulting in additional financial losses for families.Working professionals also faced major inconvenience due to the outage. Ajeet Pratap Singh, the manager of a finance company, residing in Prem Nagar, said the prolonged power cut severely disrupted his work-from-home schedule. “I had conference calls scheduled every three hours, but my laptop battery drained quickly and internet connectivity was completely disrupted. Since I work remotely, electricity and internet are essential for my job. The outage badly affected my work,” he said.Some residents said they had to leave their homes and search for alternate places with electricity to continue work.Neeraj, an on-site worker residing in Sneh Nagar, said the lack of electricity and water created difficulties even before he left for work. “There was no water to bathe or get ready in the morning. After returning home tired, we had to sit without fans or lights for hours,” he said.‘Forced to examine patients using torch lights’The outage also affected healthcare services in the locality. Dr Nand Kishore Sharma, a general physician who runs a clinic in the area, said both doctors and patients faced severe discomfort due to the absence of electricity. “When the electricity goes off for such long hours, patients start feeling uneasy, restless and extremely uncomfortable because of the heat. Without electricity and inverter backup, we are forced to examine patients using torch lights. It becomes very difficult to conduct proper checkups in such conditions,” he said.He added that elderly patients and people suffering from fever, dehydration and breathing problems faced greater discomfort during the outage. He said that uninterrupted electricity supply is essential for clinics and small healthcare centres, especially during peak summer conditions.Shopkeepers and local vendors also reported losses as refrigeration systems stopped functioning and customer footfall declined during the outage. Residents alleged that power supply issues have become frequent during summer months and demanded stronger infrastructure and faster response from authorities.Though electricity was gradually restored by Thursday morning, residents expressed anger over the delay and demanded assurances from the electricity department that such prolonged outages would not recur in the future. The incident has once again highlighted the dependence of urban households on uninterrupted electricity supply and the severe impact prolonged outages can have on education, healthcare, employment and everyday life in residential areas of Lucknow.Ayushi Singh is an editorial intern at The Wire.