Kolkata, July 8 : After the first five hours of polling till 1:30 p.m. for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal, the polling percentage has been recorded at 36.66 per cent, while the death toll on Saturday has increased to 12.

The highest number of deaths has been reported from Murshidabad at four, followed by two each in Malda and East Burdwan districts and once each from Nadia, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Cooch Behar districts.

With the total death count since the announcement of polling dates on June 8 rising to 31, with 19 recorded till Friday evening and 12 added since Saturday morning.