Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh continues to reel under a brutal heatwave stretching from the eastern plains to the western belt, with roads radiating furnace-like heat and daily life thrown into disarray. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for 19 districts across Bundelkhand and western UP, warning of extreme heat and oppressive nights.
As per IMD, relief is unlikely before June 15. However, pre-monsoon showers are expected to hit eastern UP by Sunday, with light rain predicted across both eastern and western regions starting June 16.
Districts under heatwave alert include Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Jhansi, Jalaun, Aligarh, Mathura, and surrounding areas. Meteorologists warn of intense daytime heat coupled with unusually warm nights.
On Friday, temperatures in Jhansi, Banda, Agra, Prayagraj, and Varanasi soared beyond 40°C, leaving residents gasping amid sweltering heat and dry winds. In a telling image of the struggle, young women were seen walking on Agra Road under umbrellas, braving hot gusts.
According to Dr. Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Lucknow, the heatwave conditions will persist till June 15. Post that, dust storms and rain are expected to bring some relief across UP.
Meanwhile, isolated rainfall is likely in several eastern districts including Ballia, Mau, Azamgarh, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Kushinagar, and Maharajganj.
Additionally, strong winds and thunderstorms may affect 35 districts in east-south UP and the Terai region on Saturday. Areas likely to experience relief from dust storms and gusty winds include Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, and surrounding regions.
The IMD continues to advise citizens to avoid outdoor activities during peak hours, stay hydrated, and take necessary precautions as the state awaits the much-anticipated monsoon relief.
