A man somersaults into a canal with his dog on a hot afternoon in Jammu, India on Saturday. At least 24 people have died in a scorching heat wave that has swept over half a dozen Indian states, officials said Friday. (Channi Anand/Associated Press)As people in New Delhi continue to cope with a gruelling heat wave and power cuts, some have vented their anger on the streets.

Police were called to break up protests Saturday outside the offices of electricity companies in the Indian capital.

Many residents are angry as they wait for this year's delayed monsoon. With temperatures averaging 45 C, there is increasing demand for electricity as everyone tries to cool down.

However, daily outages that normally last a couple of hours have stretched to between six and eight hours.

The power grid is unable to cope with the demand for power and most areas in Delhi have faced extended outages for the past few days.

Soaring temperatures have coincided with a late start to the monsoon season, a period lasting until September.

The rains normally arrive in the city around mid-June, as the new school year begins, bringing some relief from the heat.