Results of the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for Thursday could be as much swayed by the atmospheric winds as by political, in the two constituencies of the city.
Scorching summer heat is a possible deterrent for people, which could keep them from coming to the polling stations and standing in queues to exercise their franchise. On the contrary, balmy weather as in the past few days may encourage more voters to emerge from the shelter of their homes and walk those extra steps to the polling stations.
City’s electoral officials are looking skywards in the hope that the pleasant post noon weather would persist on Thursday too, recording better poll percentage for the city. City’s voter turnout was only about 50% during the Assembly elections in December last, which was very less compared to the State average at 73%. This was despite extensive campaign by the GHMC, designated as the District Election Office.
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This time round, officials are extra cautious to prevent any untoward incident owing to excessive heat, and make the elections a smooth affair. “We are providing tents, chairs and drinking water at each polling station, apart from ORS sachets. Ambulances and first-aid kits are being kept ready in all the Assembly segments, to meet any emergency,” informed District Election Officer and GHMC Commissioner M. Dana Kishore. NGOs have been roped in to provide butter milk and lemonade at polling stations in limited quantity.
First-aid kits are also kept at the DRC (distribution, reception and counting) centres, along with stretchers. Day-long availability of doctors and paramedical staff has been ensured at the centres. Two hundred vehicles are being deployed to fetch the old and ailing from homes to polling stations. “We are, however, expecting cloudy skies tomorrow too, as predicted by Meteorology wing,” Mr. Dana Kishore said.
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Weatherman says
Meteorology experts say that the temperature could follow the pattern thus far and be high in the day, up to 2 p.m., only to be mellowed by formation of cumulonimbus clouds by evening or night, fostering thunderstorm activity. However, the situation could be reversed if the wind changes direction, they say.
“Isolated pre-monsoon thunderstorm activity may take place owing to instability in atmosphere, wherever moisture availability is higher. High temperatures and relative humidity are preconditions for this,” says senior meteorologist B. Raja Rao.
Humidity is higher now owing to winds sweeping from Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. If the wind suddenly changes its direction, formation of clouds will be doubtful, and the heat may persist, he says.