Heat wave prompts red alert in India as elections reach peak

A ‘red alert’ has been issued in several states in northern India, as the country grapples with a heat wave amid ongoing polls to elect the next government. 

Temperatures in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh regions are expected to soar above 47C (116F), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Several parts of the country experienced the hottest April on record, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people, according to Reuters. In eastern India, the average temperature was 28.12C, the warmest since records began in 1901. 

The World Meteorological Organization warned last year that global temperatures could be higher throughout the summer due to the El Nino effect. 

The heat wave in India has been cited by analysts as one of the reasons for low voter turnout in the first four of seven general election phases, which began on April 19. In a slight turnaround, however, voter turnout in the fifth phase of the election on Monday, held across 49 parliamentary constituencies, surpassed the polling figures recorded in the same constituencies in 2019.  

Meanwhile, India’s independent election commission has formed a task force to review heat waves and humidity five days before each polling phase for “any concerning developments and mitigatory measures,” it said.  

In the next phase on May 25, voting will be held in 58 parliamentary constituencies across six states and two union territories, including Delhi. In the capital, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will face the challenge of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is in power at the legislative level.  

During the last phase on June 1, all eyes will be on Varanasi, the holy site from where Modi is eyeing re-election. The results of the polls are due on June 4.

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