The India Meteorological Department has issued an extreme heatwave warning, prompting an escalation of security measures in Delhi ahead of the Lok Sabha elections on May 25. On Thursday, Additional DCP Vishnu Kumar Sharma told ANI about the significant arrangements made at Delhi’s voting places.
There are 827 polling booths and 166 polling stations in Shahdara. Personnel have been appointed in accordance with the Election Commission’s recommendations. There will be 2,500 employees working that day. On May 20, the staff was briefed, and today… At delicate polling places, drones would be deployed,” Sharma said.
He also highlighted the expected temperature rise in the national capital, crossing 45 degrees Celsius on Saturday. Election authorities have instructed polling booth staff on coping with the heatwave and ensuring necessary arrangements for voters.
“Glucose and ORS have been distributed to the staff and they have been told that they must also carry necessary things with them to protect from heatwave,” he added.
Delhi will witness voting in a single phase on May 25 for all seven Lok Sabha seats, with a fierce contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the INDIA bloc, comprising Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The INC and AAP have formed an alliance in the national capital, with AAP contesting four and Congress three seats.
The seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi are Chandni Chowk, East Delhi, New Delhi, North East Delhi, North West Delhi, South Delhi, and West Delhi.
In phase six of the Lok Sabha polls, 889 candidates from eight States and Union Territories (UTs) will contest elections in 58 constituencies. Voting across all constituencies will commence at 7 am and end at 6 pm.
The seventh and final phase of the general elections in India is scheduled for June 1, with vote counting slated for June 4.