In West Bengal, candidates battle record-breaking temperatures during campaign trail

West Bengal candidates battle record-breaking heat during Lok Sabha elections, taking measures to stay hydrated and cool.

Amid an unforgiving sun pushing mercury levels to record highs in West Bengal, candidates across party lines are taking several measures to keep themselves hydrated and beat the heat.

Senior politician and BJP nominee from Asansol, one of the state’s hottest zones, S.S. Ahluwalia, shared his views with PTI on the perils of campaigning in the scorching heat. "I take elections very seriously and I am campaigning for four hours each morning and evening. At times, I am not able to hold the handle of my open-hooded vehicle, which turns so hot that it parches the skin. I wrap a towel around my palm to save injury," the 73-year-old leader said.

West Bengal is seeing record-breaking temperatures. On April 30, Kolkata sizzled at 43 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature recorded in the city in 50 years. At Paschim Medinipur's Kalaikunda, the mercury touched an unbearable 47.2 degrees Celsius on that day.

Irrespective of their different political hues, candidates are ensuring that they remain fit and hydrated to keep going in these extreme weather conditions.

Water, fruits, fruit juice and salads are on the diet chart of Saira Shah Halim, the CPI(M)‘s candidate for the Dakshin Kolkata Lok Sabha seat. Ms. Halim avoids the afternoon heat and by campaigning between 7.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. “I am always keeping myself hydrated and to do that I am drinking plenty of water, ‘nimbupani’ and fruit juice,” she told PTI. “I am totally staying away from red meat,” she said, adding that her meals consists of salads, vegetables and curd.

“Keep smiling, keep your body hydrated” is Mr. Ahluwalia’s mantra to beat the heat. “I have plenty of water, and water mixed with jaggery powder. At times, I find that a drink made with mixing ‘batasa’ (a semi-spherical crisp cake made of sugar or molasses) with water is the best way to stay cool and hydrated,” he said.

Mr. Ahluwalia prefers plain curd with roti and vegetables in the middle of his campaigns in Asansol, which recorded some of the highest temperatures during the summer heatwave in West Bengal.