Amid reports of road closures due to heavy monsoon in Uttarakhand, the State Election Commission has intensified preparations to ensure smooth and secure panchayat elections. The commission has asked all District Magistrates to submit detailed disaster management plans for election day.
State Election Commissioner Sushil Kumar stated that if required, helicopters will be used to transport polling parties to remote or inaccessible areas. The first phase of elections is scheduled for 24 July, followed by the second phase on 28 July.
As monsoon-related disruptions continue across several regions of the state, the Election Commission is coordinating closely with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for real-time updates. A video conference with all DMs is scheduled for 7 July, where district-wise plans and resource needs will be discussed.
Although no formal proposal has been sent to the state government yet, the Commission is prepared to act swiftly if any critical situation arises. As per existing state disaster response plans, two helicopters are already on standby under the Chief Minister’s directive. These can be deployed not just for rescue operations, but also to assist in election-related logistics if necessary.
