National Desk, 2nd June: In the concluding phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, tragedy struck as 33 poll personnel fell victim to heat-related conditions amidst scorching temperatures on June 1. Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa confirmed the distressing toll, revealing that the casualties included home guards, sanitation workers, and other poll staff. Adding to the grim tally, one voter was reported to have succumbed to the heat at a polling booth in the Sikandarpur area of the Ballia parliamentary constituency.
Rinwa announced that the families of the deceased poll personnel would receive compensation of Rs 15 lakh each, recognizing the tragic loss suffered during the electoral process. The fatalities occurred during the polling for 13 constituencies in the state, including Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Robertsganj (SC), conducted on June 1.
The adverse weather conditions exacerbated by a heatwave saw temperatures soaring up to 41 degrees Celsius across Uttar Pradesh on polling day, adding to the challenges faced by voters and poll personnel alike.
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