Some polling centres too far for poll officers, voters

  By Gun Bahadur Roka, Sulikot, Jan. 15: With the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, election officials in Gorkha district are preparing to reach some of the country’s most remote polling stations, accessible only after days of walking.

According to the District Election Office, Gorkha, several polling centres in the district still lie outside the reach of the road network. Of the 225 polling stations designated across the district, 23 are located in the trans-Himalayan areas of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, while one lies in Dharche Rural Municipality.

Most polling stations in Chumnubri are situated in extremely remote settlements beyond the mountains.  

Information Officer at the District Election Office, Rabilal Subedi, said election staff and security personnel would be required to walk for at least three to four days to reach some of these centres.

The most remote polling station in the district is Samdo Basic School in Chumnubri Rural Municipality–1. From Pangsang in Chumnubri–3, the nearest point connected by road, it takes around four days of walking to reach the centre. Similarly, Gaurishankar Basic School in the same ward and Chhuleli Basic School in Ward-7 require a three-day trek. Polling centres at the ward office building in Syo and the community building in Lho of Chumnubri–2, as well as Buddha Basic School and Chhekham Basic School in Ward-7, can be reached after two days on foot. 

Polling centres in Prok, Chhak, Namrung and Kwak of Ward-4 also require a two-day walk from the nearest roadhead. In some areas, officials must walk for a full day or several hours after disembarking from vehicles.

In Dharche Rural Municipality–1, the Hulchuk polling centre remains inaccessible to vehicles despite road construction, as a bridge has yet to be built. Voters and officials must walk for about two hours from the road to reach the centre.

In previous elections, helicopters were used to safely transport ballot boxes from such remote locations. Chief District Officer of Gorkha, Tulsi Shrestha, said preparations are under way to continue the same practice this time as well.

Despite the challenging terrain of northern Gorkha, the District Administration Office said all necessary preparations are being made to ensure the election is conducted in a free, fair and secure manner.