Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Heatwave warning issued in many states going to polls in second phase

In the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, 89 constituencies across 13 states and Union Territories are votingon Friday (April 26). However, parts of some states might face a heatwave, affecting voter turnout.

During the first phase, 102 Lok Sabha seats across 21 states and Union Territories votes on April 19. A dip of 4.4 per cent was recorded in these seats, as the voter turnout was 65.5 per cent this year, down from 69.9 per cent in general elections 2019. The extreme heat isbeing speculatedto be the reason behind the decline in voter count.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Constituencies Going To Polls In Second Phase

Here's the list of Lok Sabha constituencies that will vote in the second phase of the general elections 2024:

Assam: Karimganj, Silchar, Mangaldoi, Nawgong, Kaliabor

Bihar: Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnea, Bhagalpur

Chhattisgarh: Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund, Kanker

Jammu and Kashmir: Jammu

Karnataka: Udupi Chikamagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikballapur, Kolar

Kerala: Kasaragod, Kannur, Vatakara, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Palakkad, Alathur, Thrissur, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram

Manipur: Outer Manipur

MadhyaPradesh: Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Rewa, Narmadapuram, Betul

Maharashtra: Buldhana, Akola, Amravati, Wardha, Yavatmal Washim, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani

Rajasthan: Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota, Jhalawar-Baran

Tripura: Tripura East

UttarPradesh: Amroha, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Mathura

WestBengal: Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Phase 2: Will heatwave affect voter turnout?

IMD has issued a heatwave warning for parts of four states going to polls in the second phase - West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Konkan, Goa, Coastal Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, and Mahe will have hot and humid temperatures.

IMD states, "Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions likely to prevail in some pockets over Gangetic West Bengal and in isolated pockets over Odisha; heatwave conditions in isolated pockets over Uttar Pradesh, sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, Rayalaseema, Telangana and interior Karnataka."

Dr Naresh Kumar, asenior scientist at IMD, told NDTV that the weather office issued a red alert for West Bengal for the next three days. "Temperatures in Bihar will exceed 40 degrees Celsius. A heatwave is expected in eastern Uttar Pradesh after 24 hours and in western Uttar Pradesh after two days. The temperature will remain hot and humid in Kerala too," he said.

As per the IMD, Gujarat, central Maharashtra, and north Karnataka are the most vulnerable to heatwaves, followed by Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

On Monday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) formed a task force consisting of officials from the IMD, the poll body, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to assess the impact of heatwave and humidity five days before each phase of polling.

According to a press release by the ECI, the poll body has asked the health ministry to issue "necessary instructions to health authorities in states to prepare for and extend assistance in case of heatwave conditions affecting election operations."

(With inputs from agencies)