Amid rising mercury, voters have been advised to come well protected and hydrated at polling booths even though the election commission has ensured all basic amenities including shade and water at all polling stations on the polling day.
Jharkhand three constituencies – Chatra, Lohardaga and Palamu – will go to polls on Monday in the state’s first phase of polling. The three constituencies fall in northwest part of the state where a heat wave like situation has been prevailing for last couple days.
The meteorological centre, Ranchi, on Sunday recorded maximum temperature at 43.8 degree Celsius in Palamu. Even as the centre doesn’t have any observatory in Lohardaga and Chatra, private weather agencies have recorded 43 degree Celsius in Chatra and 40 degree in Lohardaga.
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Weather officials said maximum temperature was above 40 degree Celsius across Jharkhand on Sunday even the capital Ranchi recorded 40 degree Celsius.
Sanjay Kumar Singh, forecasting officer at Ranchi’s meteorological centre, said drying weather would continue to prevail for next couple of days in Jharkhand.
{{/usCountry}}Sanjay Kumar Singh, forecasting officer at Ranchi’s meteorological centre, said drying weather would continue to prevail for next couple of days in Jharkhand.
{{/usCountry}}There might be slight rise in maximum temperature in several parts of the state on Monday. The weather department predicted 45 degree Celsius for Palamau on Monday.
Private weather agencies have predicted 44 degree Celsius for Chatra and 41 degree for Lohardaga.
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Voters said they would have tough time to stand in queue after 9am due to scorching heat. “I hope there would be sufficient arrangement by the polling officials to beat the heat at polling stations,” said Ramesh Paswan, a voter in Palamau.
Additional chief electoral officer (ACEO), Vinay Kumar Choubey said in view of the rising mercury, proper sheds and drinking water facilities have been arranged in all polling booths.
“I would like to appeal voters that they should come well protected and they should be hydrated. Since all must have got photo voters’ slips, they must be knowing their serial number. There will be no rush and no wastage of time in finding serial number at polling booths,” Choubey said.