Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar’s Icy Adventure in Uttarakhand’s Ghost Village
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar, along with two officials and two pilots, spent a night in sub-zero temperatures at Ralam, a deserted village in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district. Ralam, located in a remote, snow-covered area, consists of 28 houses but is currently uninhabited as residents have migrated.
Kumar was on a scheduled visit to remote polling stations to understand the challenges faced by polling teams and voters in high-altitude regions. However, due to bad weather, his helicopter made an emergency landing near Ralam. The group spent the night in an empty village home before being rescued the next morning.
Once the weather improved, their helicopter safely reached the Munsyari Tehsil Headquarters. Kumar was on a five-day visit to Milam, the last village in the Johar valley of Pithoragarh district, which lies on a route leading to Tibet. This isn’t the first time CEC Kumar has ventured to remote polling locations, as he previously trekked to distant polling stations in Chamoli district to experience the challenges firsthand.
Doubts Revealed
Chief Election Commissioner -: The Chief Election Commissioner is the head of the Election Commission of India, which is responsible for conducting free and fair elections in the country.
Rajiv Kumar -: Rajiv Kumar is the person who is currently serving as the Chief Election Commissioner of India.
Uttarakhand -: Uttarakhand is a state in northern India known for its beautiful mountains and is home to many remote villages.
Ghost Village -: A ghost village is a village that has been abandoned by its residents, often due to harsh living conditions or lack of resources.
Sub-zero temperatures -: Sub-zero temperatures mean that the temperature is below zero degrees Celsius, which is very cold and can be dangerous.
Pithoragarh district -: Pithoragarh is a district in the state of Uttarakhand, India, known for its hilly terrain and remote areas.
Polling stations -: Polling stations are places where people go to vote during elections.
Emergency helicopter landing -: An emergency helicopter landing happens when a helicopter has to land quickly due to bad weather or other urgent situations.
High-altitude areas -: High-altitude areas are places that are located at a high elevation above sea level, often in mountainous regions.