Lucknow,

21 May (HS): The Meteorological Department has issued a 'Red Colour Warning'

for the next three days, followed by an Orange Warning, due to the possibility

of heatwave to severe heatwave conditions and warm night conditions at isolated

locations across the state over the next week. A red warning is the most

serious weather notice, indicating that action must be taken. According to the

Meteorological Centre in Lucknow, the absence of an active weather system,

increased radiational heating due to clear skies and dry weather, and the

subsidence of hot winds associated with an anticyclone over central India in

the middle troposphere levels have exacerbated the state's heat conditions.

The

meteorological office reported that hot and dry westerly winds across southern

Uttar Pradesh, along with moist easterly breezes entering northern areas of the

state as a result of a trough stretching up to Manipur, had raised sensible

heat and humidity levels. The government has anticipated heatwave conditions in

some areas of western Uttar Pradesh between May 21 and May 25, with warm night

temperatures expected in isolated locales between May 22 and May 24. Heatwave

to severe heatwave conditions are expected in various locations in eastern

Uttar Pradesh throughout the same time period, with warm nights in isolated

areas. The meteorological service stated that dry weather conditions, as well

as high surface winds, are expected to persist throughout the state.

On

Wednesday, Banda district recorded the highest temperature in the country at 48

degrees Celsius, followed by Prayagraj at 46.4 degrees Celsius, Hamirpur at

46.2 degrees Celsius, and Jhansi at 45.9 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in

numerous districts, including Aligarh, Varanasi, and Hardoi, stayed over 43

degrees Celsius. Extreme heat has also started to impact agricultural

production and business operations in many locations.

Farmers

in Ballia district's Sikanderpur tehsil region reported that paddy sowing

activities had been halted due to extreme heat. Farmer Braj Bhushan Singh, 45,

stated that fields were ready for sowing paddy seeds, but the current heat was

deterring farmers from starting cultivation. If seeds are sown today, continual

watering will be necessary, and the crop may eventually become burnt in the

heat.

He

claimed there is no use in sowing in such conditions. Singh stated that around

50 farmers in his hamlet had yet to begin planting, and fields remained idle

for fear of crop destruction. In

Aligarh, shopkeepers voiced worry that the city's major marketplaces had become

locked down throughout the day due to the high temperatures during the previous

three days. Rajesh Bhardwaj, general secretary of the Aligarh Vyapar Mandal,

stated that Railway Road, the city's oldest and largest market with over 600

businesses, has seen a significant drop in commercial activity. The typical

daily transaction of roughly Rs 3 crore has decreased to almost Rs 3 lakh over

the previous three days, he said, adding that the situation might worsen

further with the highest temperature.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi