New Delhi, April 2 -- As India gears up for its upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the world's largest democratic exercise starting from April 19 to June 1, a significant challenge looms large for voters and political parties: The onslaught of scorching summer heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday issued warning about the expected severity of high temperatures during the crucial April to June period, particularly impacting central and western regions of the country.

In the April-June period various parts of the country could record 10 to 20 heat-wave days compared to the normal four to eight days, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the IMD, told a virtual news conference here on Monday.

With nearly 97 crore eligibl...