World's highest polling station is a buzz of activity

At 5,000 meters or nearly about 15,000 feet, Anlaythu polling station became the world's highest on Wednesday. Not only that - it is a buzz of activity with a chopper flying in staff and an electorate of just around 60-70 people expected to cast their votes.

"Our team of around seven people, including three police personnel and four polling staff and election officers have setup the voting facilities there (Anlaythu)," Gulam Ahamed, deputy returning officer of Leh, told IANS.

"We are expecting a very high turnout at the voting station, but will not be able to give real-time voter turnout due to the inaccessibility of the area."

According to Ahamed, the team was ferried to set up the highest polling station, which comes under the Ladakh constituency by an Indian Air Force choppers from Leh.

The total voting population at the polling station area is around 60-70 people. The new highest polling station, which is close to the China border, claimed the title from erstwhile record holder Hikkam polling station in Himachal Pradesh.

The Ladakh constituency is seeing a keen fight between heavyweights of the area like BJP's Thupstan Chhewang and the Congress's Tsering Samphel.

(Rohit Vaid can be contacted at rohit.v@ians.in)