From Lucknow to Noida and all the way to Varanasi, the monsoon in Uttar Pradesh is swinging between relief and worry once again. Rain has offered some respite from the scorching heat and humidity that residents had been enduring, but an uneven monsoon pattern has pushed the weather department to issue a major alert for July 6. According to the India Meteorological Department and the Meteorological Centre Lucknow, rain is expected to continue across more than half the state, with several districts also facing the risk of lightning strikes.
Yellow alert across 55 districts, gusty winds expected
The latest weather bulletin states that a yellow alert for heavy rain, thunder and lightning has been issued for 55 districts of Uttar Pradesh on July 6. The administration has urged people to stay fully alert. Gusty winds of 40 to 50 kilometres per hour are expected to blow across these districts in both western and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Rain accompanied by such strong winds can seriously disrupt daily life, which is why residents have been advised to be cautious before stepping outdoors.
The full list of districts at highest risk
The Meteorological Centre Lucknow has named the districts where the chance of thunder and lightning is highest, including Banda, Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Deoria, Kannauj, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Unnao, Lucknow, Raebareli, Amethi, Sultanpur, Ayodhya and Ambedkar Nagar. Besides these, the yellow alert also covers Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Hapur, Gautam Buddha Nagar meaning Noida, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Etah, Agra, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Auraiya, Bijnor, Amroha, Moradabad, Rampur, Bareilly, Pilibhit, Sambhal, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur along with their surrounding areas. In effect, western Uttar Pradesh, central Uttar Pradesh, the Purvanchal belt and Bundelkhand are all within the scope of this alert.
Administration's advisory: caution can save lives
The administration has issued a special advisory asking people not to step out of their homes during rain and thunderstorms unless absolutely necessary. Farmers and labourers in rural areas, in particular, have been urged to immediately stop working in the fields the moment dark clouds gather and lightning begins. People have also been warned never to take shelter under trees or near weak and mud-built houses, since lightning most often strikes exactly such spots.
Waterlogging and traffic jams in cities
Continuous rain has already left water logged on roads in several major cities of Uttar Pradesh, making movement difficult. Anyone planning to head to office or travel for essential work on July 6 should carry an umbrella or raincoat. It is advisable to check road and traffic conditions before starting a journey and to keep tracking weather updates throughout the day, since a little caution can prevent a major mishap or inconvenience.
