Bhubaneswar, May 25: In view of the prevailing heatwave conditions, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has issued fresh guidelines for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 exercise in Odisha. The directive comes as extensive field-level activities, including door-to-door verification and voter registration camps, are scheduled to continue from May to September.
To ensure the safety of field staff and voters during the summer months, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer has instructed all District Election Officers (DEOs) and Collectors to strictly implement the prescribed heatwave safety measures.
As per the revised schedule, no field visits or outdoor verification activities will be conducted between 12 noon and 3 pm. Officials and field staff have been directed to carry out their duties only during cooler hours — from 6 am to 11 am and from 4 pm to 7 pm.
The guidelines also make it mandatory for field personnel to carry an emergency kit while on duty. The kit should include drinking water, ORS packets, a cap or umbrella, and a mobile phone for emergency communication.
Staff have further been advised to wear light-coloured, loose cotton clothes and use towels, caps, or umbrellas to protect themselves from extreme heat exposure during fieldwork.
