As extreme temperatures continue to wreak havoc across several states in India, Bihar has witnessed a tragic loss of life due to heatstroke. The ongoing Lok Sabha elections, held in seven phases in the state, are now marked by the deaths of more than 20 people on poll duty in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the Bihar government, a total of 14 people have died due to heatstroke in the past few days. The Disaster Management Department provided the following details about the heat related deaths which was a total of fourteen people, including 10 polling officials, three people from Bhojpur district, one from Rohtas district, one from Kaimur district, and one polling personnel along with four other persons from Aurangabad district. Schools and coaching institutes in the state have been shut till June 9.
प्रेस विज्ञप्ति……..
Bsdma Bihar #BiharDisasterManagementDept pic.twitter.com/HZrC3cCnul— Disaster Management Dept., Govt of Bihar (@BiharDMD) May 31, 2024
The DMD has stated that it will grant the families of the bereaved some compensation. However, the rising temperatures have cast a shadow over the electoral process as the final phase of the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar ends today on June 1st, the rising temperatures have made a great deal of worry. Bihar has reported high temperatures at 44 degrees celsius average, with Buxar reported about 47 degrees celsius.
As per reports, several security personnel who were working at polling stations in Bihar’s Sasaram also fell ill due to extreme temperatures.
ANI reported, Dr Ajeet Kumar, working at Sasaram’s Sadar Hospital saying,
“Due to the heatwave and excessive temperatures, the security personnel suffered heat stroke. 1-2 out of them are in a serious condition. There are roughly 6-7 people whom I have recently attended.”
#WATCH | Sasaram, Bihar: Security personnel deployed at a polling station fall ill due to extreme temperatures.
Sadar Hospital’s Dr Ajeet Kumar says, “Due to the heatwave and excessive temperatures, the security personnel suffered heat stroke. 1-2 out of them are in a serious… pic.twitter.com/p3chzCXyIN
— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024
A similar situation was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur, where 7 home guards deployed for polling have died due to the heat. More than 23 other such personnel are under observation in hospitals. Mirzapur SP Abhinandan has stated that the families will receive 15 lakhs as compensation.
Sonbhadra too saw the death of two polling officials on election duty, Rae Bareli too had a sub-inspector die due to the heat stroke while guarding EVMs, as per The New Indian Express.
This is the scene inside the UP’s Mirzapur hospital where 7 homeguards deployed for election duty died due to heat stroke. At least 23 other security personnel are under medical observation with some in serious condition. As per official estimate, apart from seven home guards, 6… pic.twitter.com/MZeb4PDmvP
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) May 31, 2024
Other than Bihar and UP, Rajasthan, Odisha, Jharkhand have also reported heat related deaths. The additional chief electoral officer of Bihar Alok Ranjan Ghosh has told the media that the Election Commission has instructed district magistrates to supply ORS sachets to police and polling personnel, as per Hindustan Times. Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also instructed all district officials to see that water tankers are deployed and that all government health centres and hospitals have the required facilities to handle the situation without any issues.
But is this enough? Journalists, activists and citizens have questioned the ECI for scheduling the elections amidst the peak of the summer.
Will the ECI kindly explain why the elections were so long drawn out or started so late that they are being conducted during this massive heatwave leading to so many deaths? Is the blood of these people not on the hands of the three election commissioners?
— Sushant Singh (@SushantSin) May 31, 2024
On a different note, did we have to wait for deaths of staff on election duty to realize that elections in summer is a bad idea, heat wave or no heat wave? All party consensus needed,but any evidence eci pointed this out to govt? Or did govt try to discuss this with opposition?
— suhas palshikar (@PalshikarSuhas) June 1, 2024
Meanwhile BJP’s MP from Gorakhpur Ravi Kishan has said to the media that the heat wave will go down as Prime Minister Modi is meditating so that Surya (sun) can decrease the heat.
Shocking and Breaking
BJP MP and Candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha Ravi Kishan says Modi is meditating to control Sun and high temperature
This way heat waves will be stopped and people will stop dying because of it. Looks like entire gang is full of frauds and illiterates. pic.twitter.com/EG98DHvBxD
— Anshuman Sail Nehru (@AnshumanSail) June 1, 2024
As per Sabrang India sources, 3 people belonging to the Kuki tribes from Churchandpur, located in war torn Manipur are among those who have passed away in Uttar Pradesh on election duty during the heatwave.
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