Weather conditions across Uttar Pradesh remain sharply divided, with scorching heat gripping the western and Bundelkhand regions, while thunderstorms and rain lash the eastern districts. Banda emerged as the hottest city in the state this season, recording a searing 46.6°C .
Jhansi also faced extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 45.4°C. In a tragic incident, a young man reportedly collapsed due to heatstroke and died before reaching the hospital.
In Prayagraj, efforts to prevent power outages include using coolers to lower the temperature of transformers. Meanwhile, in response to the intensifying heat, the Meerut district administration has declared summer vacations for all schools up to Class 8 until May 31. Schools for Classes 9 to 12 will also remain shut if examinations are not being held.
In stark contrast, eastern UP districts experienced strong winds and rain. In Kaushambi, a late-night thunderstorm uprooted hundreds of trees and electricity poles. A tent set up for a mass wedding under a government scheme was blown 200 meters away, and chairs and mattresses were drenched. The event, which was scheduled to host the weddings of 200 couples on Wednesday, has now been postponed to Thursday.
The storm also caused widespread power outages in several areas. Rainfall was recorded in at least eight districts in the past 24 hours, with Maharajganj in Purvanchal witnessing the highest at 11.5 mm.
In Lakhimpur Kheri, a wall collapsed amid rain and high winds on Wednesday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a father and his 10-year-old daughter. Shravasti too experienced strong morning showers with gusty winds. In Maharajganj, darkness enveloped the region as early as 8:30 a.m. due to dense clouds and strong winds. Balrampur also recorded heavy rainfall.
Lucknow, while not facing the brunt of the storms, remained under light cloud cover since morning. Meteorologist Atul Kumar from the Lucknow Met Office attributed the weather fluctuations to moisture-laden easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal. “A new western disturbance and weather system are becoming active over Uttar Pradesh. The moisture inflow from the Bay of Bengal may temporarily reduce the impact of the heatwave in some districts,” he said.
However, he warned that the relief might be short-lived, as temperatures are expected to rise again over the next three to four days. “By the end of this month, temperatures could soar beyond 47°C in some areas,” Kumar added.
As climate variability continues to intensify, both citizens and officials across Uttar Pradesh are bracing for further disruptions in the days ahead.