Heatwave Claims Lives of 16 Poll Workers in Uttar Pradesh Amid Election Duty

In a distressing development from Uttar Pradesh, a total of sixteen poll personnel have succumbed to severe health issues amidst the ongoing heatwave conditions in the region. The incidents occurred in the districts of Mirzapur and Sonbhadra, casting a shadow over the election duties being carried out. Dr. Raj Bahadur Kamal, principal of Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College in Mirzapur, confirmed the deaths and hospitalization of several individuals who were on election duty.

According to Dr. Kamal, among those who passed away were seven home guard jawans, three sanitation workers, a clerk from the Chief Medical Officer's office, a chakbandi adhikaari (consolidation officer), and a peon from the home guard team. The principal highlighted that these individuals exhibited symptoms of high-grade fever and high blood pressure upon admission to the hospital. The exact cause of death is pending ascertainment through post-mortem reports.

Homeguards Commandant B K Singh provided further details, noting that while seven home guard jawans were reported deceased, five were on poll duty and two were assigned to law and order tasks. Dr. Kamal added that four of the thirteen casualties were brought in deceased to the hospital, with two being home guard jawans who succumbed within 20-25 minutes of admission.

The situation in Sonbhadra was equally grim, where three additional deaths were reported by a senior official on Friday. Among the deceased were Nityanand Pandey (50), a 35-year-old poll duty personnel, and Santosh Kumar (55), a bus owner/driver tasked with transporting a polling party. These sudden illnesses are suspected to be cases of heatstroke, given the unusually high temperatures recorded in the area recently.

Superintendent of Police Mirzapur Abhinandan conveyed through a video message on X that six home guards had tragically lost their lives amid election preparations. The families of the deceased have been duly informed, and the bodies sent for post-mortem examination.

The intense heat has not only affected those on election duty but also raised concerns about the wellbeing of all involved in the electoral process. Homeguards Commandant B K Singh remarked on the extreme conditions faced by the jawans, emphasizing the unbearable heat even after consuming water.

In response to these tragic events, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has called on the government to address the situation immediately. Yadav has demanded compensation for the bereaved families and urged for better treatment for those still battling illness due to the heat.

Mirzapur and Sonbhadra are slated to vote in the final phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1. As these districts mourn the loss of their dedicated poll personnel, questions about adequate measures to protect those serving in extreme weather conditions have come to the forefront.