Mangaluru: Medical personnel have been stationed at all polling booths across Dakshina Kannada district to guard against heat stroke, affirmed Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M P on Wednesday.

Each polling booth is equipped with drinking water facilities, and 28 ambulances are on standby near Primary Health Centers for emergencies.

To provide shade, polling booths without corridors will be furnished with Shamiyana. The district hosts nine candidates contesting across 1876 polling booths.

The total voter count stands at 1,818,127, inclusive of 77 transgender voters and 524 service voters. Notably, there are 171 critical polling stations in the district.

Critical polling stations include 37 in Belthangady, 20 in Moodbidri, 23 in Mangalore City North, 2 in Mangalore City South, 21 in Mangalore, 6 in Bantwal, 17 in Puttur, and 37 in Sullia.

A total of 11,255 polling personnel will manage the booths, with varying numbers allocated to each assembly constituency.

Furthermore, the district boasts 72 model polling booths with specialized features catering to different demographics.

Webcasting will cover 938 polling booths, while micro observers and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel will be present at select locations.

In terms of transportation, 627 vehicles will ferry polling personnel, including jeeps, maxi cabs, mini buses, and more. Meals for personnel will be prepared by Akshara Dasoha staff, and all booths are equipped with first aid kits.

Security measures include deployment of two CAPF companies and one KSRP company within Mangaluru limits. Additional police personnel, Home Guards, and forest guards will be deployed, with a focus on critical polling booths and sensitive areas.

Overall, 1,600 police personnel, three CAPF companies, and nine KSRP platoons will maintain security across DK police limits.