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**Headline: Orange Alert Issued for 55 UP Districts as Heavy Rains and Thunderstorms Loom**

**Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh –** Residents of Uttar Pradesh can expect a break from the recent humidity and heat as cloud cover increases across the state. However, this relief comes with a warning: the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for 55 districts, predicting heavy rainfall, strong winds, and the risk of lightning strikes over the next 24 hours.

The alert covers a wide swathe of the state, including major cities and regions like Lucknow, Mau, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chanduali, Jaunpur, Gazipur, Azamgarh, Kushinagar, Deoria, Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Sitapur, Barabanki, Bahraich, Gonda, Shravasti, Lakhimpur Kheri, Hardoi, and Moradabad.

The IMD forecasts light to moderate rainfall in both eastern and western Uttar Pradesh, with the potential for localized heavy downpours (64.5 mm to 115.5 mm) particularly in eastern districts. Winds of 30-55 km/h are expected, increasing the risk of property damage alongside the lightning threat.

Already, heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours has saturated the region, with districts like Moradabad (270 mm), Sambhal (210 mm), Hardoi (170 mm), and Barabanki (320 mm) experiencing significant downpours. This has led to an increased flood risk in many villages.

The heavy rains have caused major rivers, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Ramganga, Gomti, Sharda, and Rapti, to rise perilously close to the danger mark. The northern districts of Bahraich, Balrampur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Barabanki, Gonda, and Shravasti are particularly vulnerable to flooding, potentially leading to severe waterlogging in low-lying areas, traffic disruptions, and underpass closures. The IMD warns of potential crop damage in rural areas and damage to unpaved roads.

The weather department urged for precautions against the incoming thunderstorms.
Local administrations across the alerted districts have been put on high alert and are coordinating with the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to prepare for potential emergencies. Officials have been instructed to closely monitor river levels, particularly in the flood-prone Terai region, to minimize potential damage and ensure public safety.

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