At least 33 Indian election staff died from heat stroke in the state of Uttar Pradesh (north)during the last day of voting, as reported this Sunday by the electoral authorities.
The strong heat wave has affected several regions of the country, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius.
Navdeep Rinwachief electoral officer of Uttar Pradesh, detailed that the victims included security guards and cleaning staff.
“Monetary compensation of 1.5 million rupees ($18,000) will be provided to the families of the deceased”Rinwa indicated.
He India Meteorological Department (IMD) pointed out that the temperatures in the town of Jhansi, reached 46.9 degrees Celsius. Experts say that dehydration in conditions of extreme heat can thicken the blood, causing organ failure.
An additional incident was reported in the city of balliain the same state, where a voter lost consciousness while waiting in line to vote.
“The voter was taken to a health center, where he was declared dead upon arrival.”Rinwa reported, emphasizing the risks associated with high temperatures during the electoral process.
India is no stranger to scorching summers, but years of scientific research has indicated that the climate change is causing longer, more frequent and intense heat waves.
Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, is emerging as a favorite for a landslide victory for the third consecutive time after the end of voting this Saturday. Exit polls suggest that Modi is on track for a significant victory, and he himself seemed confident that he had achieved victory.
“I am sure of our victory“Modi expressed at the close of the elections.
While there have been reports of multiple deaths due to the intense heat wave in many places, the death of dozens of people in a single day marks an especially grim toll.
In the northern state of Bihara total of 14 people died last Thursday “due to heat stroke,” the disaster management department said in a statement.
Among them are ten electoral workers, in charge of tasks such as preparing the voting centers or the transportation of electronic ballot boxes.
At least 26 people died in suspected cases of heat stroke in the eastern state of Odishasaid the special relief commissioner Satyabrata Sahu in statements to the Indian agency PTI.
”Of these, five deaths due to heatstroke have been confirmed.“, he said, while the authorities wait for the autopsies of the remaining ones.
Much of northern India remains on alert due to high temperatures.
Heat wave conditions are expected to begin to dissipate across much of the country in the coming days, coinciding with the arrival of the monsoon in southern and northeastern India.
High temperatures marked the Indian general elections, which began on April 19 and whose results are expected next Tuesday.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
