Banda tops Asia heat chart as mercury hits 46.4°C

Lucknow: As dry hot winds swept Uttar Pradesh and cloudless skies kept the sun blazing, Banda recorded the highest maximum temperature in the country at 46.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday.The district also emerged as the hottest location in Asia, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department.Globally, Banda was among the hottest locations, sharing fifth position with Illizi in Algeria.The world’s hottest places were Boromo (Burkina Faso) and Jalo (Libya), both at 46.7 degrees Celsius, followed by Tragen (Libya) at 46.6 degrees Celsius and Sebha (Libya) at 46.5 degrees Celsius.In Asia, Banda led the heat chart, followed by Akola and Wardha at 46 degrees Celsius each.Amravati recorded 45.8 degrees Celsius, while Nawabshah in Pakistan stood fifth at 45.5 degrees Celsius.Other cities among the top 10 included Barmer (45.4 degrees Celsius), Parbhani (45.2 degrees Celsius), and Bikaner, Rajgarh and Rohri, each at 45 degrees Celsius.According to IMD data, it was the highest temperature recorded in both the state and the country after a fortnight.Meanwhile, heatwave conditions intensified across the state as dry and scorching winds swept through the state.Other UP cities with high temperatures included Jhansi (44.6 degrees Celsius), followed by Prayagraj (44.5 degrees), Hamirpur (44.2 degrees), Orai (43.8 degrees), and Varanasi (BHU) at 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Mohammad Danish, senior scientist at IMD, Lucknow, said: “The extreme weather conditions were driven by persistent hot westerly winds and the absence of cloud cover, causing mercury levels to remain well above normal in several districts of the state. Severe conditions will be witnessed across the region in the next few days.”The weather office has indicated that heatwave conditions are likely to persist over parts of southern and central Uttar Pradesh.