Explained: Why India is facing its worst power crisis in over six years?

India is facing its worst power crisis in over six years as a heatwave bakes vast swathes of South Asia, causing widespread power outages.

Here is a summary of the factors behind the crunch.

WHY IS INDIA FACING A POWER CRISIS?

A surge in air-conditioning demand due to an unrelenting heatwave this year, and an economic recovery due to removal of all COVID-related curbs on industrial activity, pushed power demand to record highs in April.

New hybrid work models adopted since COVID-19 struck in 2020 have resulted in millions of Indians working from home, boosting residential daytime power use. The gap between power supplied