In a remarkable turn of events, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar was forced to make an emergency landing in a remote village near Munsiyari on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, due to inclement weather. CEC Kumar, along with two pilots and two election officials, endured the night in an uninhabited house under sub-zero temperatures.
Sources have confirmed that the helicopter resumed its journey on Thursday morning after weather conditions improved, successfully reaching the Munsyari Tehsil headquarters.
Kumar’s visit was aimed at the remote polling stations in Pithoragarh and 14 adjacent villages to understand the challenges faced by both election officials and the local electorate in the high-altitude region.
Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vinod Girish Goswami stated that the helicopter took off towards Milam Glacier around 1 PM on Wednesday. However, due to dense clouds and low visibility, it had to land at a helipad in Ralam village, approximately 42 kilometers away, at around 1:30 PM.
This isn’t the first time CEC Kumar has ventured into challenging terrains; upon taking office in 2022, he trekked to Dumak village in Chamoli district, one of the most remote polling stations, to experience firsthand the obstacles faced by polling staff. Post-visit, district election officers updated and optimized the route maps for polling stations requiring extensive trekking. A specialized backpack was also introduced to facilitate the transport of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) across harsh landscapes.
Published – October 17, 2024 12:06 pm IST
