Poll personnel leave for Darj hilly tracts

SNS, DARJEELING/ SILIGURI, 15 APRIL 2021: Polling personnel for polling booths located in mountainous terrain and termed 'P-2' today left for the elections to he held in Darjeeling district on 17 April.

A total of 12,22,190 people will cast their votes in the district, which covers five Assembly constituencies.

According to Darjeeling Sub-divisional officer and Returning Officer Piyush Shalunkhe, the polling personnel were sent there today to ensure their daylight travel to the remote areas. He said that the central forces have already been deployed there, with reserve personnel also sent.

There are three 'P-2' polling booths in the Darjeeling constituency, which include the Srikhola Primary School, Daragoan Junior High School and Ramam Forest Primary School. It will take the personnel at least six hours to reach there. Among the 'P-2' booths, the highest polling station is the Srikhola Primary School under Bijanbari block in Darjeeling district, which stands at a height of 12,000 feet, and is about 80 km away from Darjeeling.

The booth at Srikhola has 993 voters, Daragoan has 949 and Ramam 389 electors, officials said.

Polling personnel Rajen Lama, who left for Rammam today, said, "It has been four or five times I have gone to that area during elections. Earlier, it was hard to go to these areas, with us having to walk and ride on horses to reach the polling booths, but now four-wheel-drive vehicles can go there." He, however, said that they have to walk if it rained.

There are 2,42,639 voters in Darjeeling district, while Kurseong has 2,34,187 of them. Kalimpong, on the other hand, has around 2,09,755 voters.

Meanwhile, the Kalimpong district magistrate, who is also the District Election Officer, has issued orders to seal international, state and inter-district borders for 72 hours before completion of polling at 6.30 pm on 17 April.

The order, however, mentions that persons wishing to cross over for medical emergencies, pre-booked travel plans or other emergencies will be allowed to cross the borders, subject to satisfaction of border in-charges.

The Ramam Forest Primary School has only 389 electors (Male-199, Female-190). The number of voters is 933 (Male-487, Female-446) at the Srikhola Primary School, while the Daragaon Junior High School has 949 voters (Male-491, Female-458).