100 pc turn out at Bara Bhangal, EVMs airlifted

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 21 

Clear sky today permitted the airlifting of EVMs from the remote Bara Bhangal area of Kangra to Baijnath, where the booth registered 100 per cent polling. 

All 135 voters — 60 women and 75 men — cast votes, making the effort of the polling staff, who walked 40 km to reach the village, successful. Inclement weather conditions had prevented the airlifting of the polling staff two days prior to the polling on May 19, leaving the staff with no option but to trudge the 40-km-long distance. 

The EVMs could not be airlifted yesterday due to inclement weather.

Another interesting development was 142 per cent polling at the highest polling booth in the world at Tashigang. A total of 36 of the 49 voters enrolled in this polling station at a height of 15,256 ft in Lahaul-Spiti district cast their votes. 

Besides this, the 34 polling officials, including sector officers, police personnel and other duty staff, also cast their vote at this polling station, which had been declared as Adarsh Matdan Kendra.  The poll staff in the adjoining booths also chose to cast vote through election duty certificate (EDC) at this booth, considering its significance as the highest polling booth in the world.