Hyderabad, May 13 (UNI) Telangana recorded an estimated 52.34 per cent turnout till 3 PM in 17 Lok Sabha seats on Monday.

Polling, which began at 7 AM, will end at 6 PM, barring at a few places where it will conclude two hours earlier.

Polling across the 17 seats in the state and in the byelection to the Cantonment (Secunderabad) Assembly seat is reported to be peaceful with the police making elaborate arrangements.

According to Election Commission data, the highest turnout of 63.96 per cent was registered in Zaheerabad, followed by Khammam (63.67 pc), Adilabad (62.44 pc) and Bhongir (62.05 pc), while Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat recorded the lowest turnout of 29.47 per cent.

According to State Chief Electoral officer Vikas Raju, no law and order problems had been reported till around noon.In Kothagudem district, a government employee, Krishna, who was on election duty as an assistant presiding officer (APO), died due to cardiac arrest.

The incident occurred at Nehru Nagar polling station in Aswaraopeta mandal in the district.

Telangana Chief Minister and Pradesh Congress Committee President A Revanth Reddy cast his vote at Kodangal in Mahboobnagar district, and former Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi President K Chandrashekar Rao cast his vote at Chintamadaka in Siddipet segment.

Former Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya, Tripura Governor N Indrasena Reddy were among prominent leaders who cast their votes during the fourth and single phase Lok Sabha election here.

Over 3.31 crore voters, including over 1.66 crore female voters and first time voters of over 9.20 lakh, are expected to exercise their franchise at 35, 356 polling stations across the state, where the fate of 525 candidates will be decided.

Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4 nationwide.

UNI KNR KK