The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has raised concerns as it issued a heatwave warning for 18 districts in Uttar Pradesh. According to an IMD official, these districts are expected to experience scorching temperatures over the next 48 hours, particularly on Sunday and Monday.
The districts affected by this heatwave include Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Mathura, Agra, Firozabad, Etawah, Auraiya, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur, and their adjoining areas. Mohd Danish, the in-charge of the Lucknow Met office, reported that 12 out of the 18 mentioned districts already experienced heatwave conditions on the previous Saturday.
The IMD has classified these 18 districts under a yellow alert. The department employs a color-coded system for weather warnings, with green indicating no action is needed, yellow advising people to stay updated, orange urging preparedness, and red signaling the need for immediate action.
A heatwave is officially declared when the maximum temperature reaches or exceeds 40 degrees Celsius for two consecutive days or remains 4.5 degrees above normal. On Saturday, the day temperatures in Uttar Pradesh rose 3.5 degrees Celsius above the average.
Jhansi registered the highest temperature in the state, reaching a scorching 45.1 degrees Celsius, while Prayagraj recorded 44.8 degrees Celsius. Agra and Varanasi (BHU) followed closely with temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius, while Kanpur reached 42.3 degrees Celsius. Lakhimpur Kheri, Fursatganj, and Orai also experienced high temperatures, peaking at 42 degrees Celsius. In Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded at 40.1 and 24.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, with a mainly clear sky expected.
This heatwave warning coincides with the summer vacation period when most schools, including government primary and upper primary schools, are closed in the state. The monsoon typically arrives in India around June 1, with Uttar Pradesh experiencing it between June 18 and 20, usually starting in the eastern districts like Ballia and Gorakhpur.
Health expert advises individuals to drink an extra glass of water before leaving the house, cover their heads with caps or cotton cloth when using public transport, and wear a helmet while riding a bike. If traveling by car, it is recommended to refrain from using air conditioning until nearing the destination.
