THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Kerala is facing what officials describe as its worst power crisis in nearly a decade, with record summer temperatures and a sharp rise in electricity consumption straining the state’s supply system.

Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty said on Monday that the crisis had become “multi-layered,” driven by both extreme heat and a spike in domestic power usage linked to shortages of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

The minister said many households had shifted to induction cookers due to reduced availability of cooking gas, significantly increasing electricity demand across the southern Indian state.

“The shortage of LPG has forced more people to depend on induction stoves, and this has sharply pushed up power consumption,” Krishnankutty said.

Kerala, which relies heavily on power imports from other Indian states in addition to its own hydroelectric generation, has been under pressure as soaring temperatures increased demand for cooling appliances such as air conditioners and fans.

Officials said the state’s power demand had reached unusually high levels for April, raising concerns over supply management and possible disruptions if the situation persists.

Krishnankutty said the government was closely monitoring the situation and expressed hope that the arrival of rainfall would help reduce temperatures and ease electricity consumption.

The crisis comes as several parts of India face intense summer heat, placing added stress on electricity grids and raising concerns over fuel supply and power distribution.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.