LUCKNOW, June 10 -- The heat is on in earnest with temperatures soaring to 45 degrees Celsius in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, on Monday, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) sounding an orange alert for heatwaves in 11 districts. Taj city Agra and Jhansi were hottest in the state at 45.9 degrees Celsius, the second hottest in the country after Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan), where temperature soared to 47.3 degrees Celsius. The temperature in the state capital has already touched 42 degree Celsius, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and it could go even higher in the next couple of days. "The maximum temperature in the southern part of western Uttar Pradesh crossed the 45degC mark on Monday with a widespread increase during the last 3-4 days, causing heat wave conditions in Agra and Jhansi with temperatures of 45.9degC, while Kanpur with a temperature of 44.4degC was the third hottest place in the state and the hottest in eastern Uttar Pradesh," said Atul Kumar Singh, senior scientist at Lucknow Met office. "Due to the combined effect of heat and hot westerly winds coming in the southern part of the state during the next 24 hours, a high-grade orange alert has been issued with heat wave in western Uttar Pradesh till June 10, while a yellow alert has been issued for eastern Uttar Pradesh," he said. During this period, the temperature and humidity in other parts of the state are also likely to remain above normal and there is a possibility of humid heat. Thereafter, from 11th June, a new phase of rain will start from eastern Uttar Pradesh and gradually move in the north-west direction, due to which the temperature will fall by 2-3degC and the heat wave conditions are likely to ease after June 11. Orange alert for heatwave has been declared in 11 districts including Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Firozaabad, Etawah, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jhansi, Lalitpur and adjoining areas. On Monday, heat waves were experienced in Aligarh, Mathura, Hathras, Agra, Dirojabad, Iwa, Jalaun, Jhansi and adjoining areas.The forecast for UP is that weather is most likely to remain dry over the state. Strong dust rising winds are likely at isolated places over UP West. IMD has issued a warning of a heat wave very likely at isolated places over southern parts of the state during day time. Warm nights are very likely at isolated places in West UP....