"Neither will we sleep nor let you sleep".

This is the new mantra of Kanpur denizens, who have been sweating it out in 43 degree Celsius temperature, with power cuts of 15-18 hours daily.

Fed up with the power cuts, over 400 Kanpur residents equipped with folding beds, lanterns, drums and cymbals, demonstrated outside the residence of Kanpur Electrical Supply Corporation M D Nand Lal on Monday night

As soon as the clock struck 10, the residents, led by Samajwadi Party legislator Irfan Solanki, started beating drums and singing songs outside Lal's residence.

"How can the electricity board officials sleep when the residents are sweating out in the sweltering heat," the MLA asked.

"Neither will we sleep nor will we let the electricity board officials sleep," he added.

Kanpur has been facing daily power cuts of 15-18 hours, which has not only left the common man harassed but also affected the industrial sector.

Small industrial units and shopkeepers are the worst hit by the power cuts.

Electricity board officials say they can only meet 40 per cent of the demand of power, forcing them to go for load shedding.