India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Red Alert for 10 districts in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 34 districts are under Orange Alert and 17 under Yellow Alert, including Lucknow, as the state continues to reel under an intense heatwave with conditions expected to remain “severe” to “very severe” on Friday. The warning comes as temperatures soar across large parts of the state, pushing several regions into extreme heat stress.
Red, Orange and Yellow Alerts across districts
According to the IMD, the Red Alert has been issued for Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Bhadohi and Jaunpur.
An Orange Alert covers 34 districts, including Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Aligarh, Agra and Mathura, among others.
A Yellow Alert has been sounded for 17 districts, including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Barabanki, Sitapur, Hardoi, Deoria and Lakhimpur Kheri, indicating continued hot and dry conditions.
Temperatures surge across the state
Several districts have already recorded extreme daytime highs:
Banda: 47.6°C (highest in the state)
Prayagraj: 46.6°C
Varanasi: 45.6°C
Lucknow: 43.6°C, around 3.4°C above normal
Night temperatures have also remained elevated, with Lucknow recording a minimum of 29°C, significantly above average. Further, IMD has cautioned that temperatures in eastern Uttar Pradesh may rise by 2–3°C over the next 48 hours. The heatwave conditions are expected to persist for at least two days.
Government issues advisories, emergency measures activated
Health advisories have been issued urging residents to avoid direct sun exposure during peak hours, stay hydrated and take necessary precautions. All departments are directed to stay on alert. Health authorities have been instructed to ensure adequate medical supplies, sufficient hospital beds and round-the-clock ambulance services to deal with heat-related emergencies.
