Bangalore, Bhubaneshwar: As the country gets ready for round two of polling on Thursday, temperatures are well beyond 40 in many areas. But, will that affect voting?
Bangalore which votes on Thursday, is counting on the fall in mercury to bring voters out.
In the last elections, only 50 per cent voters made it to the polling booths. This time, the city where terrorism and infrastructure are top on people's minds, hopes to see a better turnout.
In south coastal Orissa too, temperatures are expected to dip. The weatherman predicts thunder squalls and hail. But in Central and Northern coastal districts of the state, which are also going to polls the heat wave is likely to continue. It has already claimed 26 lives.
The first phase saw nearly 66 per cent voting and there is worry the voter turnout in this phase will be slim.
"We have requested the voters to come early to facilitate their voting and to save them from heatstroke. All these things we have mentioned in the advertisement itself. Drinking water arrangements, proper place to wait if there's a long queue - these are the arrangements," says Alka Pande, CEO, Orissa.
But the question is - is that enough to get the voters out to the polling booths?