The 2024 Indian Lok Sabha elections were held amid some of the most extreme weather conditions India has ever seen. The sixth phase of the elections, held on May 25, stood out as the phase that experienced the highest heatstroke levels, raising concerns over voter safety and the overall electoral process, an analysis found.
According to Pune-based Respirer Living Sciences (RLS), heat stress spiked across the country, especially in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, during the 12-hour polling period from 7 am to 7 pm for the sixth phase of the elections. These states recorded the highest heat stress hours, with the heat index (HI) significantly exceeding the danger threshold of above 41 degrees Celsius as defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In such conditions, heat cramps and heat exhaustion can occur, and continued activity makes heat stroke more likely.
According to RLS research, the total number of heatstroke hours across all congressional districts during the 2024 House election cycle was 1,578. To understand how serious this is, consider this: If a city experienced eight hours of dangerous heatstroke every day, it would take approximately 197 days (1,578 divided by 8) to accumulate 1,578 hours.
Heatstroke occurs when the body’s ability to regulate body temperature is overwhelmed, and high temperatures and humidity exacerbate the situation. According to data from the Indian Ministry of Health reported by the Associated Press, successive heat waves across India in 2024 have caused more than 100 deaths and over 40,000 suspected cases of heatstroke in the past three and a half months. Between March 1 and June 18, 110 people died from heatstroke in India, with the highest number of deaths in Uttar Pradesh at 36, followed by northern states such as Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) issued an advisory in anticipation of severe weather conditions after the India Meteorological Department warned of possible extreme temperatures at polling stations. The advisories, based on guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), included avoiding outdoor activities during peak hours of temperature, staying hydrated, wearing suitable clothing and using protective gear such as hats and umbrellas.
Polling stations were instructed to provide adequate stocks of drinking water, shaded waiting areas, medical facilities, and proper signage to guide voters. Despite these measures, the heat had a significant impact.
“The data from Phase 6 clearly shows unprecedented levels of heatstroke. 55 out of 57 constituencies in Phase 6, i.e. 96.4%, observed heatstroke periods during the polling period, which not only affected voter turnout but also posed serious health risks to voters and election staff alike,” said Ronak Sutaria, founder and CEO, RLS.
Analysis of heat stress data revealed a worrying pattern. In the first phase, which occurred on April 19, 206 hours of heat stress were recorded in 102 constituencies, affecting 33.3% of the constituencies. By the sixth phase, the heat stress hours had increased to 477 hours. “Constituencies such as Sheohar in Bihar and Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh were the worst hit, recording several hours of both wet and dry heat stress,” the analysis said.
A look at the total heat stress hours by states during the 2024 election period reveals that different regions were affected by extreme heat to varying degrees. Uttar Pradesh was the worst affected, recording a staggering 354 heat stress hours, followed by Bihar with 176 hours. Other states such as Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat experienced 96 and 99 hours of heat stress hours respectively.
In contrast, the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland, along with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, did not record any heatstroke hours. However, Kerala and Tamil Nadu recorded 54 and 187 hours of heatstroke hours respectively, which was the worst recorded. The capital Delhi recorded 55 hours of heatstroke hours, reflecting the severe conditions.
“Heat stroke occurs when prolonged exposure to high temperatures causes a failure of thermoregulation, resulting in a dangerous rise in body temperature,” said Ramesh Gupta, a New Delhi-based emergency medicine specialist. “When the body overheats, it can lead to severe dehydration, organ failure, and, if not treated promptly, death. Early symptoms include high body temperature, confusion, headache, and nausea. Without immediate medical intervention, it can progress to loss of consciousness, multiple organ failure, and ultimately, fatal outcome.”
ECI officials said emergency measures included distributing oral rehydration solutions (ORS) and first aid kits at all polling stations to combat the immediate effects of heatstroke, but the experience of the sixth phase highlighted the need for stronger infrastructure and preparedness.
Voters in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh faced harsh conditions with heat indexes reported to have crossed the danger threshold in many areas. For example, Arar in Bihar recorded an average heat index of 47.46 degrees Celsius on polling day. The heat index threshold for dangerous heat stress is 41 degrees Celsius. Other states also faced significant heat stress during the elections. For example, West Bengal recorded 181 hours of heat stress during Phase 7, affecting around 72% of constituencies.
what to do
The increased severity of heatstroke from Phase 1 to Phase 7 highlights the need for sustained, systematic interventions to address the impact of extreme weather on the electoral process. “The increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change requires us to rethink how we conduct elections,” Sutaria said, adding, “We should consider rescheduling polling times, increasing the number of polling stations to reduce wait times, and leveraging technology to provide voters and staff with real-time updates on heatstroke.”
To mitigate heatstroke, experts say cities need to adopt short-, medium- and long-term solutions. “Cities should consider heatstroke prevention measures across different timescales,” said Pritika Hingorani, India CEO of Artha Global, a policy organisation focused on cities. “Given the number of people working outdoors, cities need to put in place emergency measures in the short term. This could include heatstroke warnings to stop avoidable activities, as well as access to cooling facilities, ORS and water.”
In the medium term, cities need to develop heat management plans, she added. “This typically involves more parks and green spaces, cool roofs (especially for low-income neighborhoods), walkways, and early warning systems to teach residents how to protect themselves. In the longer term, cities can borrow from older planning guidelines such as those in Jaipur’s Old City and Mumbai’s Fort district, which have lowered ground floors and provided covered walkways,” Hingorani said.
This unprecedented heat demonstrates the urgent need for better heat management strategies and climate-resilient plans for future elections. Enhanced voter education on dealing with heat stress, improved polling place infrastructure, and comprehensive policy interventions are essential to ensure elections are resilient to the growing threat of climate change.
“Unfortunately, climate planning and mitigation measures to inform public events have been largely ignored in India. People succumb to scorching heat every year. It is time we start considering weather as one of the top priorities influencing decision-making,” said Athreya Shetty, an independent weather expert.
