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Tendulkar, who is national icon of Eelection Commission of India (ECI), was joined by his son Arjun at the polling booth.

"I am the national icon of ECI and I was involved in quite a few initiatives in raising awareness about the importance of casting a vote. Today as a proud Indian I am able to do that... I appeal all the citizens to vote as it is important for the future of our nation," Tendulkar told reporters after casting his vote.

Star India batter Suryakumar also exercised his franchise. He shared his picture with an inked finger, encouraging fellow citizens to excersice their voting rights to shape a future of the nation. "Let’s shape the future of our nation by casting our vote today," he posted on X.

Rahane, on the other hand, shared a photo of himself and his wife Radhika after the couple voted in Mumbai. The 35-year-old cricketer wrote on X, “We did our duty. Have you?” 

(IANS)

About 25 labourers, who were returning after collecting tendu leaves in a pickup truck, fell into a ditch. In this incident, 15 people lost their lives, including 14 women and one man.

Eight individuals were injured and have been rushed to the hospital for treatment, said Abhishek Pallav, Kawardha SP.

Following the incident, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma expressed condolences and assured of all possible assistance to victims and their families.

"The news of the death of 15 people due to the overturning of a pick-up vehicle full of workers in Kawardha is extremely painful.

My condolences are with all the families who have lost their loved ones in this accident. Along with this, I wish for the speedy recovery of all the injured. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in providing all possible assistance to the victims and their families," Vijay Sharma wrote in a post on X.

Chhattisgarh Congress President Deepak Baij demanded from the Chhattisgarh government that the families of the victims should be given compensation without any delay.

"The news of the tragic death of 15 workers returning from Pandriya after plucking tendu leaves in a road accident is disturbing. Humble tributes to all the deceased, there is information that some workers have also been injured in this accident, I request the administration to make proper arrangements for the treatment of the injured. The families of the deceased should be given compensation by the government without delay," Baij wrote on X.

(ANI)

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According to the poll body, Ladakh recorded the highest voter turnout (61.26 per cent) followed by West Bengal (62.72 per cent), Jharkhand (53.90 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (47.55 per cent), Odisha (48.95 per cent), Jammu and Kashmir (44.90 per cent), Bihar (45.33 per cent) and Maharashtra (38.77 per cent).

Mumbai continued to disappoint with voter turnout failing to cross 40 per cent till 3 pm. Mumbai North recorded a turnout of 39.33 per cent; Mumbai North Central saw a turnout of 37.66 per cent, Mumbai North East saw a turnout of 39.15 per cent per cent, Mumbai North West recorded a turnout of 39.91 per cent. Mumbai South had the lowest turnout in the city with 36.64 per cent recorded till 3 pm. Mumbai South Central saw a turnout of 38.77 per cent.

As per the ECI, over 8.95 crore voters, including 4.69 crore males, 4.26 crore females, and 5409 third-gender electors, will decide the fate of 695 candidates in the fifth phase of voting. The fifth phase is witnessing key contests in various constituencies.

Leaders such as Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Smriti Irani, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Piyush Goyal, Ujjwal Nikam, Karan Bhushan Singh, LJP (Ramvilas) chief Chirag Paswan, JKNC chief Omar Abdullah, and RJD leader Rohini Acharya are looking for electoral success.

The eight states/UTs polling in phase 5 are Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Cities like Mumbai, Thane, and Lucknow are polling in this phase, which has in the past suffered from urban apathy in voting. Of the 49 Lok Sabha seats, 14 are from Uttar Pradesh, 13 from Maharashtra, 7 from West Bengal, 5 from Bihar, 3 from Jharkhand, 5 from Odisha, and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

In a bid to create a peaceful atmosphere for the electors, a total of 2,000 flying squads, 2105 static surveillance teams, 881 video surveillance teams, and 502 video viewing teams are keeping surveillance round the clock across the 94,732 polling stations.

A total of 216 international border check posts and 565 inter-state border check posts are keeping a strict vigil on any illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies. Strict surveillance has been kept on sea and air routes, the ECI said. (ANI)