IMD issues red alert for 10 UP districts, warns of ‘very severe’ heatwave

LUCKNOW: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for 10 districts in Uttar Pradesh (UP) for Friday. The alert has been issued for the districts of Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Bhadohi, and Jaunpur. A warning of “severe” to “very severe” heatwave conditions has been predicted.

Along with this, an orange alert has been issued for 34 districts, including Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, and Agra. Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been issued for 17 districts, including Deoria, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Farrukhabad, Lucknow, Barabanki, and Ayodhya, among others.

Regarding the alert, IMD urged citizens to stay vigilant amid intense heat conditions, which may continue for two days. It has also been predicted that temperatures are likely to increase by 2–3 degrees celsius in eastern UP over the next 48 hours, while no major change is expected elsewhere in the state during the week.

Banda recorded the highest temperature in the state, reaching 47.6 degrees celsius. Prayagraj recorded 46.6 degrees celsius, followed by Varanasi at 45.6 degrees celsius.

Lucknow recorded a maximum temperature of 43.6 degrees celsius, 3.4 degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 29 degrees Celsius, which was 3.5 degrees above normal.

Health advisories have been issued by the IMD as well as the state, urging people to remain cautious. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed all departments to remain alert. Health officials have been instructed to be prepared for any mishaps, along with maintaining adequate stocks of medicines and beds, and ensuring round-the-clock ambulance services. (With PTI inputs)