Lok Sabha Election 2024: Mixed bag of weather conditions could impact voter turnout in Phase 5

Lok Sabha Election 2024, Phase 5: Several states inIndia are voting in Phase 5 of its mammoth general elections on Monday (May 20).

A total of 49 constituencies are going to polls in the smallest phase in terms of the number of seats, with a major focus on the bastions of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra. A total of eight states/UTs are going to polls in Phase 5: Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Also Read |IndianIncome Tax dept raids shoe tradersin Uttar Pradesh, seizes cash worth $5 million

In the last phases, a low voter turnout was seen in several states due to scorching heat, with temperatures reaching more than 40 degrees Celsius in various regions.

Until now, the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 has seen 66.95 per cent of voter turnout at polling stations.

Lok Sabha Election 2024, Phase 5: Mixed bag of weather conditions could impact voter turnout

Heat wave to severe heat wave conditions are very likely to prevail in some parts of western and eastern Uttar Pradesh on May 20, as per Indian Meteorological Department. Rainfall is expected in some isolated parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh this week.

On the western side of the country, a cyclonic circulation is brewing over the west-central Arabian Sea, which can cause gusty winds in Mumbai, similar to last week that led to the collapse of a hoarding.

Isolated rains, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 km/h) are expected over the Konkan region, including Mumbai, from May 18-20. In response, the IMD has issued a yellow watch during this period, urging residents and voters to be cautious of sudden weather changes.

Also Read |Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav abruptly exit election rally in UP’s Phulpur as crowd turns uncontrollable

Despite the rain, the overall weather will remain muggy, with daytime temperatures hovering between 33-35°C.

Minimum temperatures will also slightly increase over the next two days, stabilising after that, as per The Weather Channel.

Due to the unpleasant weather, voters have been advised to plan their visit to polling stations in Maharashtra, taking into account the possibility of rain and thunderstorms.

Carrying umbrellas in case of rain and wearing light, breathable clothing will help manage the hot and humid conditions.

(With inputs from agencies)