Banda bakes at 48°C, red alert issued as heatwave intensifies

Lucknow: Heatwave conditions continued to grip Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, with Banda recording 48 degrees Celsius — 4.5 units above normal and the highest in the country — prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red alert for the district over the next few days.

Banda was followed by Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh at 47.4 degrees Celsius, and Wardha in Maharashtra at 47.1 degrees Celsius.

Severe heat persisted across the state, with residents facing intense hot winds and little hope of immediate relief.

In UP, Prayagraj recorded second highest temperature of 46.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Hamirpur at 46.2 degrees Celsius and Jhansi at 45.9 degrees Celsius.

In western UP, Agra recorded 45.3 degrees Celsius, while Orai and Bulandshahr registered 45.2 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Officials at IMD said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions were very likely to prevail at several places in Uttar Pradesh during the daytime over the next few days.

Mohammad Danish, a scientist at IMD, Lucknow, said, “The wind is blowing from the southeast direction from Thar desert, which is contributing to the rise in temperature. Currently, there are no indications of relief.”

Weather experts said temperatures may rise further over the next two days.