1 health camp for every 10 booths to tackle heatstrokes

With

Lok Sabha

elections planned in the scorching heat of April, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has mapped the election booths to review the availability of shade and water. The administration in

Ahmedabad district

has also identified health facilities each of which can cater to 10-odd booths so that any heat-related or other health implications for both voters and polling officers/personnel can be addressed swiftly.


"The preparations are afoot to establish one health facility each 10-odd polling booths that would have ORS, first aid and medicines to tackle health-related issues including heatstrokes," said Vikrant Pandey, Ahmedabad district collector. The decision has been partially triggered by the death of a 59-year-old India Post employee — Dushyant Bhatt — during a training session organized by the Ahmedabad district collector office at BJ Medical College on Saturday. Bhatt, a postal assistant at Ahmedabad and resident of Ghatlodia, was undergoing training for the booth officials when he fell unconscious at 10 am at the lecture hall of the medical college.

"He was immediately taken to Civil Hospital for diagnosis and treatment but it was a sudden death and he could not be saved. Severe cardiac arrest is believed to be the cause of death," said an official with the collector office.

Pandey said that according to the provisions of ECI, Bhatt’s family will be provided Rs 10 lakh as his died on election duty. He added that they are reviewing all the booths to prevent any untoward incident in the district. "Each booth will be mapped to ascertain availability of water and shade for voters and polling staff," Pandey said.

This season, the mercury is hovering around 42 degrees celsius and the heat is likely to continue on April 23, the polling day. For those with prior health issues, the heat can aggravate symptoms, said doctors.