INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES au NEWSLETTER SIGNUP My account Log Out Jun 01, 8:00 PM AEST Business News Sports Technology Entertainment NEWSLETTER My account Log Out Australia edition Business News Sports Technology Entertainment Editions Australia India International Singapore United Kingdom United States NEWSLETTER Follow Us Editions Australia India International Singapore United Kingdom United States Science Millions Suffer Through Heatwave On Last Day Of India Election By Bhuvan BAGGA Published 06/01/24 AT 8:00 PM AEST Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Reddit Share on Flipboard Share on Pocket Voters in India are braving an intense heatwave to participate in the national elections AFP India's gruelling heatwave is set to abate soon but that was no consolation to housewife Bindwasvini Devi, one of the millions braving Saturday's scorching sun to vote in the final day of national elections. Crowds lined up early outside polling booths to beat the heat in the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, where a week of unbearable temperatures has brought daily life to a standstill. With temperatures peaking at 44 degrees Celsius (111 degrees Fahrenheit) in the afternoon, many were keen to dispense with their democratic duty as soon as possible and return home to bunker down until the heat recedes.
"It made a lot more sense to be out before the sun gets stronger," Devi, 42, told AFP from outside a booth in her neighbourhood soon after polls opened, admitting even .
