Nagpur, 19 April (HS): A helicopter was used to replace the non-functional EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) at three polling centres in Sironcha. New EVMs were brought from Aheri within half an hour to the polling booths on the border of Telangana in Gadchiroli district.

Two helicopters were given to the police force in the region for security reasons. The poll parties reached the remote areas using helicopters. A total of nine helicopters were made available in the remote areas of the Gadchiroli-Chimur ok Sabha constituency. In Sironcha three EVMs faced some technical problems around 9 am on Friday.

Assistant Polling Officer Aditya Jivane contacted his senior officers and the EVM machines were transported using the helicopter available with the police. An ambulance was also deployed for use in case of any untoward incident.

The voters had to wait for some time. However, polling began in a short period again on the affected booths.

The voting period has been restricted up to 3 pm in some parts of the constituency. These areas are very sensitive due to Naxal activities.

NAGPUR: A similar glitch at Jaimata Primary School, Dighori was recorded on Booth Number 46. The EVM had some technical problems. Voting at the centre started about 70 minutes late on the booth after the machine was replaced.

Hindusthan Samachar/ Ajay Mardikar/Manoj