Voters in Bengaluru had to encounter heatwave-like conditions as they stepped outside to cast their vote on Friday. Bengaluru North, Bengaluru Central, Bengaluru Rural, and Bengaluru South are among the 14 constituencies where the voting is underway today.
A Prasad, a scientist at IMD Bengaluru, speaking on the condition, stated, "Although the 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."
Bengaluru is categorised under Aw (tropical savanna, winter-dry) by the Koeppen-Geiger classification with an average temperature pegged at 22 degrees Celsius. According to Climate-data.org, the mercury in the city’s warmest month April usually never rises above 32.8 degrees Celsius.
"This April, Bengaluru’s highest temperature has surpassed the normal average almost every day," said C S Patil, director of IMD Bengaluru.
As per IMD data, Bengaluru’s maximum temperature on voting day will range between 36.4 and 38.4 degrees Celsius. Given that, IMD scientists said it is best that voters take precautions when they venture out.
"It is best to avoid direct exposure to sunlight between 12 noon and 3 pm when the intensity of the heat will be at its peak. Also, keep drinking water even if you are not thirsty, and use an umbrella and sunglasses whenever venturing out. If one feels hot, a damp cloth to the neck will cool down the person to an extent," said M Rajavel, a scientist at IMD.
Meanwhile, four of the districts that were issued an orange alert by the IMD – Tumkur, Mysuru, Mandya, Chitradurga, Chikkaballapura, and Kolar – are also polling on April 26.
Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, Manoj Kumar Meena, while briefing about poll preparations had told reporters that the election commission is keeping in mind that many districts would be facing a heat wave on the polling day.
"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, which the IMD scientists attribute to the El Nino effect apart from global warming, had also resulted in subdued campaigning this election season, especially in the early phases.
“It was so hot that we had to avoid campaigning in the afternoons. We did it in the mornings, and then post 3 pm. 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.
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