Rain showers affected parts of Karnataka, including areas in Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts, where the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections was being held.
Widespread moderate rainfall along with spells of isolated heavy rains was reported in coastal and Malnad region of the state. The rain showers, which began late in the afternoon, led to polling getting halted in a few polling booths
"In isolated places, there was heavy rain because thunderstorm activity is taking place all along the coastal and Malnad region. This will last for one or two hours at the most and it is expected to affect Udupi, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagaluru," explained Sunil Gavaskar, a meteorologist working with Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC).
Rainfall forecast (for next 24 hours) pic.twitter.com/lgsWLBSPiT
— KSNDMC (@KarnatakaSNDMC) April 23, 2019
In Shivamogga, heavy winds and rain in Talaguppa village of Sagar taluk led to an electric pole falling down near booth number 272. Voting in the booth was halted for 30 minutes. Though nobody was injured by the falling pole, residents in the area avoided the road fearing that electric current is passing through the pole.
Meanwhile, rain showers affected polling in Uttara Kannada district, particularly in Ankola, Honnavara, and Sirsi. Moderate (7.5-36.55 mm) rain showers and thunderstorms were also reported in parts of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru. As per a release by the Indian Meteorological Department, rain showers are expected to continue in south interior Karnataka over the next 24 hours.
At 5 pm, the voter turnout in Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada constituencies was 68.39% and 65.58% respectively. Polling ended at 6 pm, although voters who arrive at the polling booth before the stipulated time will be given the chance to vote. The voter turnouts in both districts are expected to increase but it remains to be seen whether the rains have deterred voters.