Rain likely to play spoilsport for voters

Kolkata: The voters in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar may get drenched as the weather office has predicted rainfall in both the places on Thursday. A thunderstorm, along with moderate rains has also been predicted in South Bengal districts in the next 48 hours.

The Regional Meteorological Centre at Alipore on Wednesday predicted that there may be light rainfall in various pockets of North Bengal, including

the areas which will go to poll on

April 11.

Various South Bengal districts, including the city, may receive moderate showers coupled with strong breeze, particularly in the evening hours of Thursday and Friday.

"There will be thunderstorm and lightning in various parts of South Bengal in the next 48 hours, due to the impact of the Nor'wester. The temperature in South Bengal districts is expected to remain normal but the humidity level will be high. As a result, people may experience sultry weather conditions during the day. The mercury may slide up and down due to rain, particularly in the evening," said Sanjib Bandyopadhyay, deputy director general, Regional Meteorological Centre.

According to the prediction of the weather office, various South Bengal districts are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall in the next two days. There is a possibility of isolated rainfall in some Western districts of Bengal as well. Wind measuring around 50-60 km per hour may hit some parts of South Bengal, including the city. There is also a prediction of lightning in various parts. The rains will be caused by the cyclonic circulation, the weather office said.

The MeT office also predicted that the humidity level will be on the higher side in the state, especially during the day and hot and humid conditions may prevail in the next couple of months. Incidentally, all the seven phases of elections would be conducted in this very weather.

As a result of this, city doctors have prescribed some suggestions for the candidates of various parties, political activists and polling personnel. The doctors suggested that one should drink water, saline water and fruit juice as much as possible to fight dehydration. People have also been requested to wear sunglasses or caps while going out in the sun.

Those who are contesting the elections, as well as the voters, have been urged to avoid spicy food and consume simple home-cooked food instead. Wearing cotton dresses would be an ideal option for the people to tackle the heat.