LUCKNOW, May 24 -- Uttar Pradesh

continued to reel under intense heat on Sunday with seven cities from the state figuring among the 29 hottest places in the country where temperatures crossed 45 degrees Celsius. Banda emerged as the second hottest city in India at 46.8 degrees Celsius, while Bramhapuri in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region topped the list at 47.2 degrees Celsius.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that thunderstorms, gusty winds, and dust storms could bring sudden weather changes across several eastern districts during the next 24 hours. According to the IMD, weather is likely to remain dry over West Uttar Pradesh, while rain and thundershowers may occur at isolated places in East Uttar Pradesh.

The weather de...