Updated

A blistering heat wave has caused massive power cuts and water shortages across much of north and western India, and some people are taking to the streets to express their anger with the government.

Enraged citizens in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh have set fire to a fire station and held power company employees hostage for several hours. Police there said Thursday that at least 21 people have been arrested for damaging government property.

Uttar Pradesh, home to 190 million people, is India's most populous state and one of the poorest. Its inadequate power infrastructure has been unable to meet high demand as temperatures have peaked above 47 degrees Celsius (116 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days.