The workers died in the northern state of Uttar
Pradesh, the state’s chief election officer, Navdeep Rinwa, told reporters at a
news conference. Their families will receive $18,000 each in compensation, he added.
At least 61 people have died from heat strokes,
heat exhaustion, dehydration and other heat-related illnesses since May 24,
according to local health and government officials. Of that number, at least 43 were election workers, authorities said. Election
duty is compulsory in India for public sector employees. They’re assigned by
the election commission before polling begins.
To carry off such a huge election, India relies on
a network of some 15 million polling officials and security staff, with some of
these election workers traveling via road, boat, camel, train, and helicopters
to reach citizens across the vast nation.
Northwest and central India have been experiencing
maximum temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit) with some
towns even crossing the 50-degree mark (122 Fahrenheit), according to the
Indian Meteorological Department.
Before voting began, the Election Commission of
India announced several measures to account for high temperatures during
voting, such as making water available at polling booths and setting up tents
for shade.
“Heat wave conditions over Northwest, Central &
East India are likely to continue with reduced intensity during next 3 days,”
the Indian Meteorological Department said on Sunday.India is among the countries expected to be worst affected by the
climate crisis, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
threatening its development while risking reversing its progress on poverty
alleviation, health and economic growth.
The country often experiences heat waves during the
summer months of May and June, but in recent years they have arrived earlier
and become more prolonged. Experts say the climate crisis is only going to
cause more frequent and longer heat waves in the future, testing India’s
ability to adapt.