News

Indian minister blames heat after fainting at election rally

By AFP

April 25, 2024 03:32 PM


Indian minister blames heat after fainting at election rally

Video grab

Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

An Indian minister has blamed his fainting while addressing an election rally on hot weather as the country's weather bureau warned of a severe heatwave in parts of the country during the poll.

Scorching temperatures have hit many Asian countries this week, prompting the school closures in the Philippines and Bangladesh due to extreme heat forecasts.

Roads minister Nitin Gadkari fainted during his speech on Wednesday at a small town in the western state of Maharashtra, where he was campaigning for the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.

Footage of the incident showed the minister falling unconscious and being carried off the stage by handlers.

"I felt uncomfortable due to the heat during the rally," Gadkari wrote on social media platform X later that day.

"But now I am completely healthy," he said, adding that he was going ahead with his election campaigning.

https://twitter.com/PoliticalKida/status/1783088171200159862

The Indian Meteorological Department said on Thursday that severe heatwave conditions were likely to continue in at least nine eastern and southern states over the next five days.

"Heatwave to severe heatwave conditions (are) very likely to prevail," the statement said, with temperatures already reaching 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit) in some locations.

Large outdoor campaign rallies are being staged across India with the country in the middle of a marathon election staggered across six weeks.

Tens of millions of people are due to vote in the poll's second phase on Friday.

India's election commission said this week that it was reviewing the impact of heatwaves and humidity before each round of voting with a view to "mitigatory measures" that would still allow citizens to cast their ballots.

Years of scientific research has found climate change is causing heatwaves to become longer, more frequent and more intense.


AFP


Most Read

  1. Here are the prominent victories of Kashmir Hum Style Awards 2024 Here are the prominent victories of Kashmir Hum Style Awards 2024
  2. Stars gliter Kashmir Hum Style Awards 2024 red carpet night, exude glitz & glam Stars gliter Kashmir Hum Style Awards 2024 red carpet night, exude glitz & glam
  3. Meet and greet! Few Glimpses of Star-studded ‘Gentleman’ premiere affair Meet and greet! Few Glimpses of Star-studded ‘Gentleman’ premiere affair
  4. Alizeh Shah emerges with ‘BF’ at dazzling awards night Alizeh Shah emerges with ‘BF’ at dazzling awards night
  5. Social media erupts in protest as Hania trumps Ayeza Khan for Most Stylish Award Social media erupts in protest as Hania trumps Ayeza Khan for Most Stylish Award
  6. Electricity, flour prices slashed after PM Shehbaz orders immediate release of Rs23b to AJK govt Electricity, flour prices slashed after PM Shehbaz orders immediate release of Rs23b to AJK govt

Opinion

  1. Alice Munro, Canada's 'Chekhov'
    Alice Munro, Canada's 'Chekhov'

    By AFP

  2. Pak-Saudi-Iran economic proximity
    Pak-Saudi-Iran economic proximity

    By News Desk

  3. Military Establishment rules out any deal with what it terms a ‘bunch of anarchists’
    Military Establishment rules out any deal with what it terms a ‘bunch of anarchists’

    By Salim Bokhari

  4. 9th May - A year later
    9th May - A year later

    By Mutaza Solangi

  5. Everything but the truth in Telegraph
    Everything but the truth in Telegraph

    By Mutaza Solangi

  6. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan