(Rptg, correcting dateline)

Agra, Apr 24 (UNI) Hot weather conditions will continue to prevail in Uttar Pradesh as heat wave is likely to persist for the next few days.

In the last 24 hours, the blistering heat has claimed two more lives in the city of Taj, mounting the death toll to four.

According to the Met department, there is no respite to people from scorching heat as heat wave condition continues and is likely to persist in entire state for a few more days.

In the 'Taj city', tourism department suffered due to drop in the number of tourists visiting the 'monument of love' as temperature here had reached 43.4 degrees Celsius.

Due to the scorching sun, people were faced hardships and preferred to stay indoors.

District administration had ordered the closures of schools after 1200 hrs in several districts, including Lucknow, Agra and Kanpur.

In the last 24 hours, Varanasi, Faizabad, Jhansi, Meerut, Kanpur and Allahabad had recorded noticiable rise in the day temperature, Met department spokesperson said.

Banda remained the hottest with 44 degrees C, which was four notches above the normal, whereas Varanasi was at 43.5 degrees, Allahabad 43, Jhansi 42.3, Bareilly 41.4, Kanpur and the state capital were at 42 degrees Celsius.

Weather would remain dry in the next 24 hours, Met spokesperson added.

UNI PDM SW AS1656