‘Weather may play a spoilsport’
SHIMLA:EVEN as Election Commission has made meticulous arrangements for Lok Sabha elections in Shimla, Kangra, Hamirpur and Mandi, the forecast of freak weather on poll day has whipped up concern among political parties Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party.
In the last phase of elections, Himachal is witnessing heavy to moderate rainfall and hailstorms, which are predicted to continue in the coming days. Many areas of Lahaul Spiti district are still covered in snow while a few polling stations, such as Bara Bhangal of Kangra district, lack proper transport facilities.
As many as 53, 30,154 people will be casting their vote, which include 27, 24,111 males, 26, 05,996 females and 47 third gender voters. The voting will begin at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
The biggest challenged will be faced by 999 centenarian voters and those with physical disabilities.
Director of meteorological department Shimla, Manmohan Singh said, “Precipitation has occurred in the past 24 hours throughout the state and Himachal Pradesh will experience moderate to light rainfall, here and there, in the lower, middle and higher hills of the state on the polling day. (May 19th).”
Dalhousie of Chamba district received 52mm rainfall which was the highest in the state and the minimum temperature in Dalhousie was 9.2 degrees. Shimla, the state’s capital received 13.7mm rainfall on Saturday and had recorded a minimum temperature of 11.8 degrees. Manali, a popular tourist destination, has received a 24 mm rainfall and recorded 7.2 degrees as minimum temperature, while Dharamshala the state’s winter capital has received 14.4mm rainfall and recorded 14.3 degrees as minimum temperature.
However, the Election Commission is optimistic about Himachal recording 100% voting despite bad weather.
The state has a total of 7730 polling stations, many of which lie in remote areas with inadequate transport facilities. Tashigang village of Lahaul Spiti is the highest polling station in the state, at a height of 15,256 feet and hence, bad weather will make it very challenging for voters to cast their franchise.
In the past few days, weather has been unpredicatable in the state, and heavy to moderate showers including hailstorms, which have made the summer a pleasant affair and will likely affect polling in Himachal.