Bengaluru: Amid Heatwave-Like-Situation, City Goes To Polls

Bengaluru: Voters in Bengaluru endured scorching heat as they turned out in significant numbers across four constituencies in the city, among the 14 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls in Karnataka today. Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru Rural, and Bengaluru South were among the constituencies where voting took place in the first phase.

“Although Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has not included Bengaluru in the list of heat wave affected areas, the city does satisfy one of the heat wave conditions – the departure from normal temperatures by at least 4.5 degrees,” said A Prasad, a scientist at IMD Bengaluru.

Bengaluru falls under the Aw (tropical savanna, winter-dry) category according to the Koeppen-Geiger classification, with an average temperature of 22 degrees Celsius. However, this April has seen temperatures consistently surpassing the normal average, according to C S Patil, director of IMD Bengaluru.

Is Bengaluru Under a Heatwave?According to the IMD, Bengaluru is not under a heatwave alert yet. However, residents are advised to avoid stepping out during peak heat hours and stay hydrated.

Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, Manoj Kumar Meena, assured preparedness for heat-related medical issues like sunstroke and dehydration. Each polling booth was equipped with medical officers, ambulances, and special medical kits.

“We are prepared for heat-related medical issues like sunstroke and dehydration. All polling booths will have medical officers and ambulances too. Besides that, each booth will be equipped with a special medical kit,” Meena told reporters.

The unprecedented heat, attributed by IMD scientists to the El Nino effect and global warming, led to subdued campaigning, particularly during the early phases of the election season.

“It was so hot that we had to avoid campaigning in the afternoons. We did it in the mornings, and then post 3pm. So yes, our campaigning did suffer because of the heat,” said M B Patil, Congress leader and state minister for large and medium industries and infrastructure development, to PTI.

(With PTI Inputs)