Heavy Snowfall Threatens Elections in Mustang as Residents Remain in Plains

Baglung. Only one week remains until the upcoming House of Representatives election.

Despite the approaching voting day, there is little enthusiasm in Mustang, the district beyond the Himalayas. Villages are deserted. Locals who descended to the cities to escape the cold in the month of Kartik have not yet returned to their villages. How can they return to villages covered in thick snow? Although the District Election Office has started election activities, some villages have no people left.

With the voting date arriving before the snow melts, uncertainty about whether the election will take place is increasing. Nevertheless, stakeholders are working rapidly to ensure the election takes place. The local residents who moved to places like Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, Bhairahawa, and Butwal three months ago to escape the cold have not been affected by the election atmosphere. They must wait for the snow to melt before returning to their villages. According to the Mustang District Administration Office, three polling stations could not be monitored because roads were blocked by snowfall.

Mustang's Chief District Officer (CDO), Ajita Sharma, informed that they could not reach three polling stations in Sanga in Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality-5, Tangya in Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-5, and Dhyey village due to snow-blocked roads. Out of the 40 polling stations, including temporary ones, two in Upper Mustang and one in Sanga village could not be monitored.

On Monday, a team including CDO Sharma, Deputy Superintendent of Police Chhiring Kripa Lama, Lieutenant Colonel Gauravdhwaj Khan Thakuri of Indra Baksha Battalion, Deputy Superintendent of Police Bheshraj Giri of the Armed Police Force Nepal, Chief of National Investigation Vishnu Hari Pandit, and District Election Officer Lokendra Gyawali had to turn back midway because the road was blocked by heavy snow while heading to monitor Sanga village.

Efforts to Clear Snow and Open Roads

CDO Sharma stated that efforts have begun to clear the snow and open the road to reach the polling station in Sanga village. She mentioned that two bulldozers are being used in coordination with the Division Road Office, Baglung, and Baragung Muktikshetra Rural Municipality to clear the snow.

She said, 'When the District Security Committee team was heading to Sanga village for monitoring yesterday, Monday, the road was closed due to heavy snow, so we returned. Today, we are trying to open the road using two machines. If the road opens, it will be easier to reach the village.'

CDO Sharma informed that Sanga village, which has 13 households, has a total population of 70, with 39 voters at the Basic School polling station. She added that the Tangya village polling station in Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda Rural Municipality-5 has 98 voters, and Dhyey village has 88 voters.

Discussion on Transporting Voters by Helicopter

Voters who descended to the cities due to the cold are still in places like Pokhara and Kathmandu. They face difficulties returning to their villages until the cold subsides. Furthermore, with the roads blocked, concerns are growing about how they will reach the villages to vote. CDO Sharma stated that discussions are underway with the Election Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs to arrange for voters in areas where roads are blocked by snowfall to be transported to polling centers by helicopter.

She mentioned that if the weather improves, the snow will melt, and voters will be able to reach their villages easily via the road. Sharma added that alternatives are being discussed if the weather remains adverse. She noted that voters are slowly starting to ascend to Mustang now.

'We are working to ensure the right of the voters to cast their ballots; efforts will be made to transport them via road if possible, and if that is not feasible, we are discussing other alternatives with the Election Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs,' she said. 'If the weather permits, the roads will open, and vehicles will run.'

Election Office Preparing for Elections

The Mustang District Election Office has intensified preparations for the elections. District Election Office Chief Lokendra Gyawali informed that after the ballot papers arrived in the district, training was provided to the Chief Polling Officers and Assistant Polling Officers, and voter education programs have been intensified.

He said, 'Voters who went down to the plains to escape the cold are slowly ascending to Mustang. The Election Commission sent the ballot papers just on Monday, and we are rapidly carrying out the tasks required from the district level. Due to adverse weather conditions, monitoring of some polling stations remains pending.'

Mustang, which has only one constituency, has a total of 11,328 voters. This includes 5,768 female voters, 5,559 male voters, and one other voter.