Residents in Gilgit are taking to the streets as electricity cuts stretch beyond six hours during a punishing heatwave, triggering water shortages and boiling frustration. The protests, marked by tyre burning and roadblocks, signal a deepening crisis in a region where basic infrastructure is failing to keep pace with demand. Main Developments On Tuesday, demonstrators blocked the main Quaid-i-Azam Road at Public Chowk in Jutial for several hours, demanding uninterrupted power supply. They burnt tyres and raised slogans against authorities, accusing the Gilgit-Baltistan government of failing to ensure electricity. Similar protests erupted in Kundas, Danyore, and Amphary. In Kundas, a large group of women gathered at the RCC Bridge and blocked the KIU Road, urging immediate action to restore power and water supply in their neighbourhoods. Read also: Judicial Panel Recommends Justice Bajwa for LHC Judge Post Background The outages have also disrupted water supply in several areas, compounding the misery for residents already suffering in hot weather. The region has long grappled with power shortages, but the current duration of cuts—exceeding six hours—marks a severe escalation that has pushed public patience to a breaking point. Why It Matters For residents, the power cuts are not just an inconvenience but a daily threat to health and hygiene, especially when water pumps stop working. The protests highlight a governance gap that, if unaddressed, could spiral into broader unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan, where infrastructure development has long lagged behind population growth. What's Next Authorities have yet to respond to the protesters' demands or announce any plan to restore normal power supply. Without immediate intervention, the region faces the prospect of continued demonstrations and escalating public anger as the summer heat persists.