Ballot boxes from four Humla local levels to arrive only on Tuesday

By Rajan Rawat, Humla, Nov. 22: Ballot boxes from the 34 polling centres of Sarkegad, Chankheli, Adanchuli and Tajakot rural municipalities may not reach the Office of the Chief Election Officer (OCEO) at Simkot before Tuesday.

According to Chief Election Officer Dil Prasad Sapkota, the ballot boxes from these local levels have been brought to Sarkegad but have not been able to be transported from there due to bad roads.

There is the option making the one-and-a-half-day journey from Sarkegad to Simkot on foot but the OCEO has decided against that.

“We are in discussions with the Election Commission and are preparing to bring the ballot boxes by helicopter by Tuesday afternoon,” Sapkota said.

Meanwhile, ballot boxes from the 25 polling centres of Kharpunath, Simkot and Namkha rural municipalities have arrived at the OCEO.

Over 77 per cent turnout

The voter turnout in Humla was over 77 per cent in Sunday’s federal and provincial elections. 

Acting District Election Officer Shyam Bahadur Rana informed that of the 32,581 people who were eligible to cast their vote on Sunday,25,095 voted.

Limi’s boxes brought by helicopter

The ballot boxes from the polling centres of Limi were brought to Simkot by helicopter.

Talking to The Rising Nepal, Chief District Officer Sita Pariyar said that the boxes from the three polling centres of the village, known as the settlement beyond the mountains, had to be transported by helicopter on Monday after snow blocked the roads.

Along with the ballotboxes, the Nepali Army chopper, with the serial number MI-17, also brought 13 election employees and security personnel to the district headquarters. However, 51 employees and security officers are still in Limi. They will be brought on Tuesday.