Indians swelter in power outages

Already India's capital has called on residents to run just one air-conditioner as temperatures soar into the mid-40s Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit).

The appeal comes as residents endure outages lasting up to 10 hours in parts of Delhi while those people in rural areas of the country served by electricity get as little as two hours of power or none at all.

"You know how crazy the idea of turning off air-conditioners is -- how hot it is here? You could roast a leg of lamb in this heat," says actor Roshan Seth, a Delhi resident who has become an urban activist.

"I liken this to a war-torn economy," Seth told AFP.

India's growing electricity shortages hardly seem befitting a country hailed as the second-fastest growing major economy after China. Yet, experts warn that the problem won't be solved anytime soon.