Siliguri, April 3 (IANS) A long 11-km arduous trek, accomanied by ponies, awaits poll officials as the Election Commission gears up to hold the Lok Sabha election at the remote booth of Srikhola in the mountainous terrains of northern West Bengal's Darjeeling district.
At a height of 2,800 m above sea level, Srikhola houses the highest polling booth in West Bengal. The village is nearly 100 km southwest of Darjeeling town.
With no motorable roads, electricity or drinking water supply, reaching the booth at Srikhola Primary School under the Bijonbari block involves the 11-km stiff climb from Rimbick.
"Starting from Darjeeling, the first 60 km is covered by car, the next 29 km by two-wheeler, before trekking becomes the only option," Pushpak Roy, officer-in-charge, election, Darjeeling, told IANS.
The polling material is carried on the back of ponies, with locals acting as the guide on the treacherous mountain route.
Compared to the Lok Sabha polls five years back, the voter count has gone up by over 15 percent at Srikhola inhabited by hill tribes like lepchas, sherpas, tamangs and limbus.
While the booth had 730 eligible voters in 2009, the strength now is 841, including 395 women.
About five km from Srikhola stands another remote booth, Daragaon, at a height of 2,600 m above sea level.
The number of electors at Daragaon has however dipped sharply from 1,120 in 2009 to the present strength of 841, including 416 women.
The Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency is scheduled to go to the hustings April 17.
"The polling officials will have to start on April 15 and reach the booth on election eve. They will carry electric charger, light, generator, candles and lanterns," Roy said.
Besides these two booths under the Lodama police station, there are 17 other polling stations in the neighbouring Kalimpong hills which are difficult to reach.
Ajit Karmakar, who was presiding officer at the Daragaon booth during the previous Lok Sabha election in 2009, recalled that he had fallen sick after the gruelling trek.
"We left our car at Ringbit and started walking. Ponies were not available that day. So we had to walk. It took us four hours," Karmakar said.
"There was no light. I couldn't even charge my mobile. So, the authorities sent someone from neighbouring Sikkim with a mobile charger.
"Another problem was food. There are no eating joints. So, we had to take our food at the house of a villager," Karmakar told IANS.
Gajendra Gurung, a voter at Daragaon in his late 30s, sounded upbeat. "We will definitely vote. It is our right".
S. Dorje Sherpa, 26, was ecstatic at former Indian soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia being in the fray.
"We may be living at a remote place. But we always vote. And this time we have two heavyweights (in Trinamool nominee Bhaichung Bhhutia and Bharatiya Janata Party's S.S. Ahluwalia). That's great. I have always been a great fan of Bhaichung."
Exercise utmost restraint: Modi, Jaitley to BJP well-wishers
New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) Expressing disapproval over "irresponsible" statements, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and senior leader Arun Jaitley Tuesday urged the party's
These arguments of ED can make Kejriwal's interim bail difficult, 10 big things in the affidavit of the investigating agency
During the hearing of the money laundering case in the Supreme Court, there was an indication of interim bail being granted to the jailed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for election
Expansion of India-US Defence ties Expected
New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS) The visit of US President Barack Obama is expected to strengthen defence relations between India and the US and details of agreements likely to be signed will be finalised
RSS and BJP are spoiling the atmosphere of the country, Rahul Gandhi's big attack
After the Supreme Court's scathing remarks on Nupur Sharma, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the RSS and BJP are spoiling the atmosphere in this country. The country is currently battling
Corona in India: After the Indian strain of Maharashtra, now the triple mutant variants of Bengal have increased concern ... know why this form of the corona is so dangerous
The second wave of coronavirus in India is proving far more deadly. The situation has become worrisome with 2 to 3 lakh new cases coming up every day. Scientists decoded the new Covid variant B.1.617
Pros and Cons of AAP's Rise (Comment)
The first fallout of the Aam Admi Party's (AAP) spectacular victory in Delhi will be a renewed focus on sleaze in public life. This was the issue which was the mainstay of Anna Hazare’s
Cyber Attack: Big cyber attack on PF website, personal information of 28 crore account holders reached the hacker
The account information of more than 28 crore account holders of Provident Fund (PF) has been leaked. According to the report, this hacking of the PF website happened earlier this month. Bob
Corona In Gurugram - Corona's havoc a record 3553 positives in one day, 10 Died
Gurugram The number of corona-infected patients in the district has been steadily increasing. On Thursday, 3553 people have been infected and 10 people have died. So far in Gurugram, this record is
Blast in schools in Afghanistan: 3 blasts in schools in Kabul, 25 children killed, fidayeen attacker blew himself up at one place
Terrorists have targeted schools in Afghanistan. Three blasts took place in schools in Kabul on Tuesday morning. A fidayeen attacker blew himself up in a school. According to local media, so far 25
Sri Lanka Crisis Updates: Sri Lankan President's new maneuver; Gotabaya Rajapaksa formed a new cabinet of 17 ministers to save the chair, the old ministers came out in protest
Amid protests in Sri Lanka, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed 17 new ministers. Dinesh Gunawardene has been made Minister of Home, Duglas Devendra has been made Minister of Fisheries, and
