Poll staff, material to be airlifted to snowbound areas

Dec 14, 2007, 14:43 GMT

Shimla, Dec 14 (IANS) Special helicopter flights with polling staff and material will be carried out by the Election Commission (EC) to the two most remote pockets in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the polls Dec 19, said officials here Friday.

'Helicopter sorties will be carried out Saturday and Sunday to Dodra Kwar in Shimla district which has 3,920 voters,' said state electoral officer Manisha Nanda.

'Voters in and around Dodra Kwar, which is a part of Rohru assembly seat, live in an altitude ranging from 6,500 feet to 10,500 feet above the sea level,' she said.

Dodra Kwar is the constituency of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and is under deep cover of snow, which has been falling intermittently since the past five days.

The official said the helicopter sorties will also be carried out to Bara Banghal area, part of Baijnath assembly seat Dec 17.

The Bara Banghal area is around 9,500 feet above sea level and is also snow bound and has 45 Gaddi shepherd electors.

The second and final phase of polling for 65 assembly seats will be held Dec 19 and the counting on Dec 28.

The first phase of polling, for the three tribal seats of Bharmaur, Lahual & Spiti and Kinnaur districts, was held Nov 14 due to forecast of early snowfall in the mountain regions.

© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service