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Karnataka elections: Rain concern looms large on polling day
With Bengaluru witnessing rains, chief electoral officer of Karnataka Manoj Kumar Meena expressed apprehension about the voter turnout
Bengaluru: Rainfall is likely to cast a shadow on polling in Karnataka on Wednesday, as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate rains in Bengaluru and other parts of the state.
According to IMD, light to moderate rains and thunderstorms with lightning are expected in Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts on Wednesday and Thursday. Apart from Bengaluru, light to moderate thundershowers accompanied by lightning and gusty winds are very likely at isolated places over Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Kalaburgi, Koppal, Yadgir, Ramanagara and Shivamogga, the IMD said on Tuesday.
The weather department has observed a depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal. “The low-pressure area over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining South Andaman Sea has become well marked low pressure area over the same region at 0530 IST today, the 9th May 2023,” the IMD said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It is very likely to intensify into a depression by today evening over the same region and subsequently into a cyclonic storm over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas of east central Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea on 10th May. It is likely to move initially north-northwestwards till 12th May morning. Thereafter, it is likely to recurve gradually and move north-northeastwards towards Bangladesh-Myanmar coasts,” it added.
Bengaluru saw heavy downpour on Monday evening causing flooding in several parts of the city. The rainfall was mainly concentrated in the south and central parts of the city, leading to traffic congestion especially in the Central Business District and key arterial roads.
The state capital witnessed 92 mm of rainfall between 8.30 am on Monday and 8.30 am on Tuesday, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).
According to the met department, the light to moderate showers is likely to cause temporary disruption of electricity in some areas, minor traffic snarls, possible damage to kuccha and unsecured structures, and possible uprooting of weak tree branches.
With Bengaluru witnessing rains, chief electoral officer of Karnataka Manoj Kumar Meena expressed apprehension about the voter turnout. “Earlier we thought it would be the heat, but it’s the rain that we’re worried about. We are making sure that there is enough shade at polling booths to tackle this,” he said.
The polling for the 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka will be held on Wednesday between 7 am and 6 pm. Over 50.31 million voters will decide the fate of 2,615 candidates.
