The town of Banda in Uttar Pradesh appears deserted after 10 a.m. every day, with shops mostly closed and roads empty, not because of a ritual, but because of the sweltering heat.
On April 27 this year, Banda recorded 47.6 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature anywhere in India on that day and the highest since 1951, surpassing the previous peak of 47.4 degrees Celsius for the month, which was reached on April 30, 2022 and April 25, 2026. On Tuesday, Banda was once again the hottest in India as the temperature reached 48.2 degrees Celsius, setting a new record.
The consistent readings have placed Banda among the most extreme heat locations in India – a distinction long associated with Rajasthan cities like Churu and Jaisalmer.
But why exactly is the city in UP’s Bundelkhand region buzzing so much now? Here’s what researchers say.
Why is the temperature of Banda in UP rising so much?
According to the researchers, the vulnerability of the Banda region reflects a climate crisis caused by years of local environmental destruction that has stripped away the natural systems that once moderated its climate. Here are the main reasons:
Mining and blasting: Hills in Banda and the wider Bundelkhand region were blasted with explosives. Sand is extracted from the Ken River bed by excavators. Both actions are prohibited under NGT guidelines, yet they continue on an industrial scale in the region, leading to environmental and climate destruction.
Dust and debris removal: The blasting and crushing at Banda releases huge dust clouds. These dust particles suspend in the air and trap the sun’s heat near the Earth’s surface, preventing natural cooling from occurring.
River degradation: When sand is removed from the Ken Riverbed on an industrial scale, it strips the riverbed of its ability to recharge. Water no longer seeps into the ground. Instead, it quickly shoots out of the surface.
Kane, which was previously 10-20 feet deep in many stretches, is now barely 0.5-1.5 meters deep. It dries completely during the summer, which increases heat trapping.
Groundwater collapse: With rivers not recharged and aquifers depleted, groundwater in rural Banda district has dropped to about 120 feet below the surface. Dry soil and rock absorb and radiate much more heat than wetlands, providing another path for heat to continue rising in the region.
Deforestation: Banda loses an estimated 13.72 percent of its forest cover every year. Dense forest cover decreased by 17.55 percent according to a 2025 study conducted between multiple universities. Trees provide shade, release moisture into the air, and slow winds – all of which bring down temperatures. With fewer and fewer of them doing so each year, temperatures continue to rise
