Dehradun: After an emergency landing of chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar’s helicopter amid bad weather near Ralam village in Pithoragarh district on 16 October, he was safely rescued by villagers, ITBP and local administration.
Being overwhelmed at their efforts, he expressed his gratitude by writing a letter to the residents of Ralam for their hospitality and dedication. CEC has sent this letter to Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer, CEO, Dr. B.V.R.C. Purushottam. He also praised the ITBP jawans in a letter to the Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
‘A drowning man clutches at a straw’, writes CEC
In his letter, the Chief Election Commissioner expressed his gratitude, saying, “There is a saying that ‘a drowning man clutches at a straw.’ This came true for all of us when this three-member team reached Ralam village like angels. Their pet dog, acting as the fourth security shield, was also with them.” Praising the dedication of the people of Ralam, he wrote, “These young angels embodied the highest ideals of humanity, creating unforgettable memories by saving our lives. I believe the administration will adopt this example of local participation in disaster management, and the policy of ‘first responders’ will motivate and honor the local residents. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and wish you a healthy and long life.”
Emergency landing at a ghost village
On 16 October, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar visited remote and high-altitude polling stations in the 42-Dharchula Assembly constituency of Pithoragarh district, including villages Milam, Martoli, Ganghar, and Panchu, for a ground study on the election process. Due to bad weather, the pilot of his helicopter made a precautionary landing at Rolam village in Munsiyari tehsil of Pithoragarh district around 12:30 pm. As Ralam village is located in a high Himalayan, snow-covered area, all its residents had moved to their winter residence in Paton and other places a few days earlier, leaving the village completely empty at the time.
Villagers walked more than 38 kms on foot through very difficult hilly paths to reach Ralam
Upon hearing the news of the CEC being stuck in Ralam, Ishwar Singh Nabiyal from Paton village, along with Surendra Kumar and Bhupendra Singh Dhakariyal, braved the challenging geographical conditions and adverse weather, including continuous rain and snowfall. They walked over 38 kilometers through difficult hilly paths and reached Ralam village around 1am, carrying life-saving materials and food items for CEC and others.
Along with this, the Chief Election Commissioner has also written a letter to the Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and praised the rescue team deployed in Dharchula of Pithoragarh district.
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