Poll access difficult in Gorkha

To reach the polling stations in remote areas of North Gorkha, one has to walk for at least three days from the last point of the road. To reach the 25 remote polling stations that are not connected by road, one has to walk for three days from Chumanubri-3 Pangsing, the last point of the road.

225 polling stations and 335 polling stations have been determined in Gorkha for the upcoming election of members of the House of Representatives to be held on March 5. Of these, 24 sites are very far from the road network. Most of the polling stations in Chumanubri and some in Dharche are far from the road network, according to the Election Office. 23 polling stations in Chumanubri Rural Municipality and one polling station in Dharche are located in areas not connected by road network, according to the office.

The farthest is the Samdo Basic School Center in Chumanubri-1. To reach there, one has to walk for at least three to four days from Pangsing, where the road has reached. Similarly, one has to walk for at least three days to reach the Gaurishankar Basic School polling center in the same ward. One has to walk for three days to reach the Chhuleni Basic School center in Ward No. 7.

According to the details provided by the District Election Office, to reach the VDC building Syo Center, Community Building Lho Center, Buddha Basic School Center in Ward No. 7, and Chhekam Basic School Center, election staff have to walk for two days from Pangsing, where the road has reached. To reach Prok Basic School Prok, Himchuli Basic School Chhak, Namrung Health Post Center, and Kwak Basic School Kwak in Ward No. 4, they have to walk for two days from Pangsing, where the road has reached.

According to the details received from the office, election staff and security personnel are forced to get out of their cars and walk for a whole day to reach Krak Basic School Center and Gumba Himali Basic School Center. Similarly, in Ward No. To reach Sipchet Basic School Center, Chumling Basic School Center, Siddha Ganesh Basic School Center and Khar Community Khop Center in Ward No. 6, one has to get off the motor and walk for another day.

Ward No. 3’s Buddha Secondary School Center, Buddha Himali Basic School Nyak Center, Sidung Basic School Sasryu Center, and Film Basic School Pati Center are also not connected by road. To reach these centers, one has to get off the vehicle and walk for one to four hours.

Ward Chairperson Ramsing Gurung said that even though a road has been constructed to Hulchuk Voting Center in Dharche Rural Municipality-1, motor vehicles will not be able to operate. He said that since there is no bridge in Budhi Gandaki, even if a road is dug, vehicles will not be able to reach Ichcha Basic School Center there. He said that the voting center is about two hours' walk from the road.