Uttar Pradesh and north India remained under severe heatwave conditions as Banda district topped the temperature charts for the fourth consecutive day.
The district recorded a maximum temperature of 48.2 degrees Celsius, with residents calling it an 'Agni Pariksha'.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the key reasons for the extreme heat include direct sunlight, clear skies, and low soil moisture.
A severe heatwave red alert has been issued across the state for the next three days, followed by an orange alert after that.
Residents in Banda are trying to get relief from the intense heat by drinking water and consuming sherbet from roadside stalls.
Locals point to deforestation and illegal mining as major contributors to the rising temperatures in the district.
The meteorological centre in Lucknow has predicted heatwave conditions in some areas of western Uttar Pradesh and severe heatwave conditions in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
