UTTAR PRADESH, India: At least 33 polling staff succumbed to heatstroke on the last day of voting in Uttar Pradesh, India, as extreme heat gripped the region. The deaths underscore the severity of the heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas.
Navdeep Rinwa, the chief electoral officer for Uttar Pradesh, confirmed the deaths, which included security guards and sanitation staff. Jhansi recorded temperatures as high as 46.9 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit). Rinwa announced that the families of the deceased would receive compensation of 1.5 million rupees ($18,000).
Experts explain that dehydration combined with extreme heat can lead to thickened blood and organ failure, a lethal combination seen during the voting period. Additionally, a voter in Ballia lost consciousness and died while waiting in line to vote, highlighting the widespread impact of the intense heat.
India’s experience with high summer temperatures is well-documented, but climate change is exacerbating the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves. This recent spate of deaths among polling staff marks a particularly tragic chapter in the country’s climate crisis.
Amidst the heatwave and the election’s conclusion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears poised for a third consecutive landslide victory. Exit polls indicate strong support for Modi, who expressed confidence in the electorate’s decision. Results officially will be announced on Tuesday.
