A devastating heatwave claimed the lives of eleven individuals on poll duty in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts on Friday, as scorching temperatures soared to 47°C. The casualties included six home guards in Mirzapur and three and two polling personnel in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra, respectively.
According to district officials, an additional ten home guards in Mirzapur and six more polling personnel in Sonbhadra are currently receiving treatment for similar heat-related ailments in government hospitals.
With the final phase of elections scheduled for Saturday in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, including Mirzapur and Robertsganj (Sonbhadra), the extreme heat poses significant challenges for poll workers.
Authorities in Mirzapur reported that the home guards collapsed while on duty and were rushed to the divisional hospital’s trauma center, where tragically, six of them succumbed during treatment.
Confirming the deaths, Mirzapur’s Superintendent of Police Abhinandan and District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan expressed condolences and stated that post-mortem examinations were underway.
In Sonbhadra, District Magistrate Chandravijay Singh confirmed the deaths of two poll personnel, attributing the fatalities to the intense heat.
Amidst the tragedy, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged the government to provide substantial compensation of ₹5 crore to the families of each deceased polling personnel and home guard.
Meanwhile, Kanpur also grappled with a heatwave, recording temperatures between 46°C and 48°C over the past week. Dr. S.N. Sunil Pandey, a weather scientist, noted that this May marked the hottest on record, with temperatures surpassing 48°C thrice.
The alarming number of deaths in Kanpur prompted families to attribute the fatalities to the severe heat, although district authorities emphasized the need for post-mortem examinations to determine the exact causes.
As investigations continue into the tragic incidents, communities mourn the loss of lives amidst the unforgiving heatwave gripping the region.
