An ‘orange alert’ has been declared for the 14 districts of Karnataka scheduled for Lok Sabha polls on May 7, attributed to temperatures reaching 42 to 44 degrees Celsius in recent days. Bengaluru may witness light rainfall soon, as per forecasts. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has raised a red alert for five districts – Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad, Haveri, and Koppal – until May 9, as reported by PTI.
The 14 constituencies slated for polling on May 7 include Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davangere, and Shimoga.
Despite anticipation, Bengaluru did not receive rainfall on May 5. C S Patil, Director of the Meteorological Centre, Bengaluru, IMD, noted only 4 cm of rain across Karnataka on that day.
In recent days, Bengaluru witnessed rainfall ranging from 4 mm to 30 mm, with Hosakote district experiencing heavy rainfall, especially on May 3.
Polling During Heatwave
Considering the extreme weather, the Election Commission has taken measures to alleviate heat-related issues at polling centers, aiming to maintain voter turnout. In the initial phase, Karnataka recorded a 69.56 per cent voter turnout. Tents, additional fans, chairs, and water dispensers have been provided in these constituencies. Ambulances are on standby at polling stations to address any heat-related emergencies, PTI reported.
Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena stated that the constituencies scheduled for voting on May 7, primarily in North Karnataka, experience slightly higher temperatures. Hence, arrangements have been made to encourage voter participation.
He emphasized, “Given the harsh summer, we are ensuring special arrangements to counter high temperatures, risk of heatstroke, and dehydration. We are installing shades, providing drinking water, and fans where necessary at polling stations.” ASHA and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) workers are also deployed to handle medical emergencies.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Kalaburgi district (Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency) has witnessed temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius for the past seven days.
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