Heat wave killed 33 poll workers on last day of Indian general elections
At least 33 election workers succumbed to a heat wave during the final phase of India's general elections. The elections concluded on Saturday in 57 seats across several states, where the deaths were reported.
Many Indian cities are experiencing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 49°C (120.2°F). Several states have reported fatalities due to the heat wave, which is expected to persist in regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
New Delhi recorded an unprecedented temperature of 52.9°C (127.2°F), though weather officials later clarified that this reading was erroneous.
On Saturday, Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh registered a temperature of 46.9°C (116.4°F), the highest in the country according to the Indian weather service.
Navdeep Rinwa, Chief Electoral Officer of Uttar Pradesh, announced that financial compensation would be provided to the families of the deceased, which included sanitation workers.
Although May is typically the hottest month of the year, the Indian Meteorological Department's outlook for May indicated that the number of heat wave days would be "above normal by about 5-8 days" in several states.
In Odisha, officials confirmed nine deaths due to the heat wave and are awaiting confirmation on 81 additional suspected heat-related deaths.
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