Bihar: Heatwave Alert For 3 LS Constituencies, Hot & Humid Conditions Forecast On 5 Other Seats

According to the MeT Department, the temperatures are likely to stay between 41-44°Celsius and humidity is above 70 per cent. 

As the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections is underway in Bihar for 8 seats under Patna and Shahabad divisions, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a heatwave alert for Karakat, Buxar and Sasaram constituencies on Saturday.

According to the MeT Department, the temperature is likely to stay between 41- 44°Celsius and humidity would be above 70 per cent, making heat unbearable, as per an IANS report. 

Voting in Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Nalanda, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Karakat and Jehanabad kicked off at 7 AM, and people started queueing up early in the morning in order to avoid the afternoon heat. 

Anand Shankar, a Patna-based meteorologist explained while the heatwave alert was issued for the 3 constituencies, hot and humid conditions are likely to remain in five seats. The other five seats of Pataliputra, Patna Sahib, Nalanda, Jehanabad and Arrah will experience hot and humid conditions, he said. 

“We have advised voters to drink plenty of water. If they have to stand in queues for a long time for voting then keep the head covered with a towel or umbrella,” Shankar added.

Steps Taken For Heatwave

In view of the heatwave trend over several days, Patna District Magistrate Shirsat Kapil Ashok said that sufficient medical teams have been deployed at various places considering a red alert for the heatwave conditions, according to an ANI report.

He said that an extra 10 per cent of reserve polling officials are present in case any already deployed polling officials fall ill due to heat.

District Magistrate further said that there are separate facilities for transport. "Thousands of vehicles have been engaged. We have created strong rooms. We have initiated several awareness schemes, such as free rides, march to the booth, etc.”, Ashok told ANI.

The hot and humid conditions are turning out to be deadly in Bihar, with more than 110 people having lost their lives since Wednesday. Aurangabad recorded the highest number of deaths, 19 were killed in the district, on Thursday, the maximum temperature of Aurangabad reached 48.2°Celsius.

With 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, the fourth highest among all States and Union Territories, Bihar holds a crucial position in shaping Indian politics. Hence, elections in Bihar have been contested in all seven phases.