The Election Commission of India has a new job at hand for the sixth phase of polls — tackling the threat of Cyclone Remal that is expected to have an impact on coastal Bengal, a large part of which falls in East Midnapore where voting will be held on Saturday.

To avert the suspension of voting because of an electricity outage on Saturday in the wake of inclement weather, the Election Commission for the first time arranged emergency power backup facilities on all 3,600 polling premises, which will house 4,000 booths, in the East Midnapore district.

Apart from ensuring power backup, the EC has taken multiple measures to ensure that the polling process goes on without any interruption and voters’ access to polling stations is not hindered.

"This is an unprecedented initiative taken by the EC. Backup power supply arrangement is seldom made for remote polling stations and the WBSEDCL usually advises us to ensure uninterrupted power supply on the day of polling. But this time, considering the possibility of inclement weather, the EC has taken such a measure to ensure unhindered polling," an official of the East Midnapore district administration said.

Voting will be held on Saturday for eight Lok Sabha constituencies — Contai, Tamluk, Ghatal, Jhargram (ST), Midnapore, Bankura, Bishnupur (SC) and Purulia.

Of the eight seats, Contai and Tamluk in the East Midnapore district have become most vulnerable in the backdrop of the depression over the central Bay of Bengal that is expected to intensify into severe cyclonic storm Remal. The cyclone is expected to move northwards and cross Bangladesh and adjoining Bengal coasts between Sagar Island and Khepupara around May 26 midnight.

Apprehending the severity of the cyclonic storm, the EC has arranged generators for polling stations in East Midnapore.

Officials in the district election unit said that Ramnagar, Contai North and Khejuri gram panchayats in the Contai Lok Sabha constituency and Nandigram and Haldia in the Tamluk constituency were identified as the most vulnerable zones, which could suffer a disaster if Remal lashed the coast with the anticipated pace.

To manage any difficult situation because of harsh weather conditions, the district administration has deployed quick response teams (QRTs) in every gram panchayat and they will be equipped with electric tree cutters, axes, emergency lights and all other required instruments.

"Cyclone has been anticipated on Sunday. Since heavy rainfall is expected to occur prior to it, we have taken all necessary protective measures so that voters don't face any problems. There will be sufficient civil defence personnel to help them in any difficult situation," said East Midnapore district civil defence officer Mrityunjoy Halder.

On Friday, before leaving for polling stations, polling personnel at the distribution centres were advised to be careful enough and to coordinate with district officials.

While the East Midnapore officials undertook dual preparedness for Saturday's polling and cyclone threat, administration in South 24-Parganas and North 24-Parganas districts have taken all possible measures to meet the weather threat.

On June 1, elections will be held for 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in the two districts.

To initiate immediate, protective measures in the wake of any damage from Remal, the South 24-Parganas district administration has launched an integrated control room and cyclone monitoring centre from May 20 at district headquarters and in all subdivisional towns.

"We are prepared to face the challenge of the cyclone with all possible protective measures so that any loss or damage could be minimised," said South 24-Parganas's district magistrate Sumit Gupta.

The South 24-Parganas district has eight vulnerable blocks where the administration has identified 5,000 people as a vulnerable population. The irrigation department has been directed to take necessary protective measures for weak earthen dykes to avoid any breach due to high tidal waves.

The administration has deployed three NDRF teams with one each in Kakdwip, Sagar and Gosaba. Four SDRF teams have been deployed at Basanti, Gosaba, Sagar and Gosaba islands. Five QRTs of the civil defence wing have been stationed at the four sub-divisional headquarters.

Additional director of civil defence Nisith Bhaskar Paul told The Telegraph: "We have kept ready over 100 multi-purpose cyclone shelters as rescue centres, 20 flood shelters apart from some schools which could be used too as the rescue centre."

"Other necessary equipment like tree-cutters, speed boats and at least 10 satellite phones have been kept ready as an alternative communication medium," Paul added.