HEATWAVE TAKES ITS TOLL IN ASIA...

Hot weather raises fears of lower voter turnout in India’s GE

- Nirmala Ganapathy

NEW DELHI India is battling a record heatwave as millions of people vote in its ongoing general election, raising concerns that the scorching temperatures will adversely impact voter turnout.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that temperatures would remain high through most of May, when most of the country will vote.

India is in the midst of a sevenphase general election, with four of the remaining five phases taking place in May. The last phase will be held on June 1, with votes counted on June 4 when results are due.

A red alert issued by the IMD when temperatures soar above 47 deg C was sounded for the state of West Bengal on May 2 amid a heatwave that has also affected other states, including Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

Voting for the 42 seats in the Lower House of Parliament - the Lok Sabha from West Bengal and 40 seats from Bihar is taking place over all seven phases of the election. Voting for all 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh will be on May 13.

Temperatures have been higher than normal by a couple of degrees in affected parts of India as it saw its warmest April in many years.

Indian media has so far reported nine deaths linked to the heatwave, which is expected to ease in southern India next week.