The blistering heatwave sweeping across Uttar Pradesh has turned life upside down in Lucknow, with temperatures crossing 40°C and hot winds making daytime unbearable. The city, along with 40 other districts, is under a severe heat alert, with Banda recording a scorching 44°C on Wednesday. Further, following the extreme heatwave, school timings for Classes 1–8 in all government, government-aided, and private schools have been adjusted, to ensure student safety.

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Lucknow has warned that the next three days will see even higher temperatures, with nights offering little respite. Heatwave conditions will intensify in eastern, southern, and Bundelkhand regions, with temperatures rising by 2-3°C, as per Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist. Jhansi and Hamirpur may even touch 45°C.

In response, Lucknow’s District Magistrate, Visakhji, has altered school timings for classes 1 to 8, shifting operations to 7:30 AM–12:30 PM to protect students. Outdoor activities have been banned, and markets are shutting early as streets empty by midday.

With warm nights adding to the misery, the Met Department has issued a heatwave alert for 37 districts, including Lucknow, Varanasi, and Prayagraj. Residents are advised to stay hydrated and avoid peak sun exposure as the relentless heat shows no signs of easing.