Yellow warning issued as Mumbai set to vote amid hot, humid conditions

Despite the temperatures hovering around 35 degrees, Mumbaikars complained of extreme discomfort due to humid conditions, with scientists attributing it to the westerly winds.

Sunil Kamble, director of IMD Mumbai, told The Indian Express, “The humidity levels are in the range of 70 – 80 per cent. The city is currently receiving westerly winds because of which the temperatures are relatively lower but the humidity has spiked. However, this is a typical summer phenomenon.”

The IMD has also issued guidelines to the district administration that are gearing up for the fifth phase elections. “We have issued special guidelines along with three-hour bulletins with details about the weather developments of the day. There is unlikely to be any rain activity on the polling day,” added Kamble.

The district collectorate has also made provision of drinking water, shade for protection from sun as well as facilities to ensure voters’ comfort. “We have made medical arrangements and will provide ORS in case some voters experience discomfort,” said an official on poll duty in the suburbs.

Meanwhile, the city is set to seek some respite from Tuesday, with the IMD issuing no alert for a few days thereafter. The weather bureau has forecast dry days ahead with no probability of rain or thunderstorms.