Karnataka voters unfazed by summer heat

Bangalore, May 16 (UNI) One woman voter succumbed due to scorching heat which did not deter voters who turned out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the second phase of polling for the 66 Assembly seats in Karnataka today.

In the politically volatile Bellary District, polling, which was rather tardy in the morning, picked up well in the afternoon despite the mercury touching 41 degrees Celsius in the districts of Bellary and Raichur. In Bellary, only nine per cent polling was recorded in the first three hours.

In the coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, despite the sweltering heat people thronged the booths right from 0700 hrs when polling began.

However, the heat took its toll when a 60-year old woman collapsed and died as she could not withstand the heat while standing in the long queue at a polling booth in Puchabettu School in Nullur Village in Karkala taluk of Udupi District.

In Malnad belt under the Western Ghats region, known for its sublime weather, the sun beat down hard on the voters. However, more than 60 per cent people cast their votes in Shimoga District while it was 63 per cent in Chikmagalur.

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