Patna: As many as 10 election personnel involved in the process of conducting Lok Sabha polls in Bihar have died due to heatstroke.
As an extreme heatwave sweeps through eastern India, 14 people have succumbed to heatstroke, according to the Bihar government.
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“Among the 14 deaths, 9 polling personnel are from Bhojpur district, 3 from Rohtas district, 1 from Kaimur district and 1 polling personnel and 4 other persons from Aurangabad district,” the state’s Disaster Management Department said on Friday.
The shocking news comes a day ahead of the final phase of marathon Lok Sabha elections which started on April 19.
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Bihar is among only three states (UP and West Bengal are the others) where polling is being held in all seven phases.
The state government announced ex-gratia payment to families of those who died due to heatstroke.
Several places in Bihar recorded temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius, with the mercury touching 47.1 degrees at Buxar.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heatwave conditions in the state to continue for another 3-4 days.
“People are advised to avoid heat exposure, keep cool and avoid dehydration,” PTI quoted an official of Bihar Disaster Management Department as saying.
All schools, coaching institutes and anganwadi centres are closed till June 8.
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