The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for several districts in Uttar Pradesh as the heat wave seems to be spreading across the state with more days likely to see high temperatures as a Red alert.
The Meteorological Centre has predicted a severe to very severe heat wave in 10 districts – Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Bhadohi and Jaunpur – on Friday. The other areas have been warned to avoid direct exposure to the sun, to drink plenty of fluids and to take precautions during peak afternoon sunshine times.
The weather department has also put orange alert for 34 districts including the major areas of Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Agra, etc., where its chances are of prolonged and intense weather wave.
Besides, an alert for 17 districts, including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Sitapur, Hardoi, Barabanki, Lakhimpur Kheri has been sounded. The yellow alert is issued by IMD to warn residents to keep an eye on the weather and be ready for prolonged heatwave conditions which are expected to last for at least two days.
Maximum temperatures in eastern Uttar Pradesh will rise further by another 2-3 degrees C in the next 48 hours, whereas all other parts of the state will have consistently hot maximum temperatures during the week, meteorologists said.
The elderly, children and people with medical conditions are being advised to stay in as much as possible, to prevent heat-related illnesses like dehydration, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.