8 officials on poll duty among 18 heat-related deaths in Bihar

Five of those who died in Rohtas, two in Bhojpur, and the one in Buxar were people deployed on election duty, officials said. The Sasaram and Karakat Lok Sabha constituencies, which encompasses Rohtas district; the Arrah constituency, which is in Bhojpur district; and the Buxar constituency are among eight parliamentary seats in Bihar that will go to the polls on Saturday in the last phase of this year’s general election.

Heatwave conditions prevailed across Bihar in recent days, with the day temperature crossing 44 degrees Celsius at several places Thursday.

Buxar recorded the highest temperature of 47.1 degrees Celsius.

The Bihar government had on Wednesday ordered the closure of all private and government-run schools, coaching institutes and Anganwadi centres until June 8.

Incidents of school teachers fainting were reported from Sheikhpura, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran districts, and other regions due to the scorching heat. State-run schools are closed for students, not for teachers.

With PTI inputs