Nainital, March 5
Arrangements have been put in place for the counting of votes across Uttarakhand that is scheduled to take place amids tight security on Tuesday.

Chief Election Officer (CEO) for the state of Uttarakhand Radha Raturi has directed all the District Election Officers (DEOs) that appropriate arrangements be made for carrying out the exercise in a peaceful manner. In a video conference session that was held on Monday afternoon, Raturi said that arrangements have to be put in place as per the directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI). She has expressed the hope that like the polling on January 30, the counting, too, shall pass off in a peaceful manner. She reiterated that the counting would begin at 8 am and the postal ballots would be the first to be counted. It is only after half an hour of the commencement of the counting of the postal ballots that the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) would be opened. She has also stated that the last round of counting of the EVMs would start only after completion of the counting of the postal ballots.

She has asked the Election Observers to get the counting of postal ballots done in their presence and seek the help of the Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) for the same.

The counting of the postal ballots is to be videographed and ballots received after the time of starting of counting will not be counted.

Raturi has asked the DEOs to ensure that candidates and their agents are able to see the counting candidate wise on the EVMs without their being present physically at the counting tables. At the same time proper arrangements are to be put in place for taking of EVMs from the strong rooms and back. Even the media persons would be allowed to go a designated spot at the counting centre in small groups and no cameras would be allowed at the counting tables.

Raturi has asked the DEOs to take the help of the police authorities and get the traffic at the counting stations diverted. The Returning Officers (ROs) have been asked to keep a vigil on the counting exercise. Orders have also been given to keep the computers, fax machines, telephones and other equipment at the counting centres in working order along with other basic facilities like drinking water, power supply etc. The use of mobile phones at the counting centres and taking out of victory processions after declaration of results has been prohibited across the state.

In Almora district DEO DS Garbyal has ordered the Subdivisional Magistrates (SDMs) to form teams for maintaining law and order.

In Udham Singh Nagar Deputy District Election Officer Ranbir Singh Chauhan has informed that elaborate arrangements have been put in place to facilitate proper media coverage of the counting. DEO PS Jangpangi has deputed district-level officers to help the media persons in carrying out their jobs across the district which has nine assembly constituencies.

Dehradun, March 5
The Uttarakhand electoral office has made an elaborate arrangement for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections and it will begin at 8 am tomorrow. A total of 16 counting centres have been set up in the state for counting of over 42 lakh votes.

There are a total of 62,77,956 voters in the state. In all, 788 candidates contested the poll, with the Congress and the BJP putting up candidates in all the 70 Assembly seats.

According to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Radha Raturi, the Kotdwara Assembly seat in Pauri from where Chief Minister BC Khanduri is pitted against heavyweight of the Congress Surinder Singh Negi has the minimum number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the Chakrata Assembly seat the maximum.

“The counting will commence in the morning throughout the state and it will take at least 10 minutes for counting of votes already registered in the EVMs.

The Kotdwara Assembly seat is expected to have the minimum number of counting rounds as there are around 98 EVMs and Chakrata has around 199 EVMs so the counting rounds will be more for this Assembly seat.

Other Assembly seats that have below 100 EVMs include Laksar, Lal Kuan, Didihaat and Sitarganj. The prestigious Badrinath Assembly seat too has around 193 EVMs.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has deputed 36 central election observers with at least one observer entrusted with two overseeing the counting process in one Assembly seat.

In Dehradun, five election observers will be preparing their own report of the results.

In Dehradun district, two counting centres have been set up for counting of votes of 10 Assembly seats. The counting at Suddhowala (Polytechnic) will be held for Chakrata, Sahaspur and Vikas Nagar Assembly seats and at Niranjanpur Mandi for Rishikesh, Raipur, Doiwala, Dehradun Cant, Dharampur, Mussoorie and Rajpur seats will be held.

Dehradun, March 5
In view of the Holi festival on March 8, the GVK EMRI 108 Emergency Ambulance Services would be pressing into service extra ambulances at Dehradun, Haridwar and Kothgodam.

“As the road related accidents see a 132 per cent hike during the festival of Holi, we will be pressing into service additional ambulances at Dehradun, Haridwar and Kathgodam in addition to our normal ambulance services. In Dehradun the ambulance services would remain deployed at clock tower, Jakhan, Prem Nagar, ISBT, Rispana, Doiwala, Selaqui and Raipur,” said Manish Tinku, state head (Uttarakhand).

He further elaborated that according to the trend observed in the last three years, the total number of Holi related cases (including accidents and violence due to drunk driving) have always been high in Dehradun, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar.

“We are expecting between 1000-1100 calls during Holi, and all eyes would be on these sensitive districts,” said Tinku.

To educate the masses towards playing safe Holi, 108 in association with IDEA mobile network would send SMS messages to it’s clients to play Holi with herbal colours and avoid drunk driving. 

Dehradun, March 5
Students and the staff of Nanhi Dunya, the International Movement of Children, celebrated Holi Utsav with great enthusiasm on the school campus here today.

The Holi Utsav was followed by a week-long workshop conducted by Kiran Ulfat Goyal, chief promoter, Nanhi Dunya, where volunteers from different countries participated and experienced the Indian culture through literature, dance, drama and education system.

The children designed beautiful rangolis and decorated the school campus with paper animals and lanterns, adding warmth and joyous atmosphere to the Holi Utsav. Young artistes of Rangshala, who wore colorful traditional dresses, presented skit depicting the different aspects of Lord Krishna’s life. Their performances captivated the audience’s attention and left them spellbound.

Kiran thanked all members, participants, co-workers, parents and children. She praised the children for their beautiful theatre presentation.

The festival concluded after the traditional farewell to all volunteers followed by distribution of gujia prepared by the community and was enjoyed by all.

Haridwar, March 5
Jointly organised by Dev Sanskriti University and Indian Hospitality Congress, the two-day international conference having theme of ‘Nourishing the Balance of the Universe through Tourism and Culture’ concluded here today.

The conference, which saw more than 600 delegates from 20 countries, focused on having spirituality aspect imminent while promoting tourism. Experts cited Indian example where tourism is categorised in religious-spiritual and entertainment, which is a fine example of amalgamation, yet quite a distinct line between the two aspects.

Addressing the gathering at the final session, Dr Chinmay Pandya, Sub Vice Chancellor of Dev Sanskrit University, said that be it life or tourism, need of spiritual vision is imperative, and if we take this along side, then the whole society develops both economically and spiritually.

Indian Hospitality Congress chief Professor SC Bagdi highlighted the outcome of the seminar and assured of jointly hosting more such events in near future.

Seminar coordinator Ashish Dahiya, Tourism Department head Arun Pandey and Uma Kant Indolliya read out the crux of the two-day seminar evolved in various sessions. A unique presentation of morning prayers by delegates from different countries was also presented at the concluding ceremony, dipping the whole atmosphere in religious-spiritual fervour.

Be it presentation of ‘Chinto’ culture by Meghni Simamoro, Maori culture by Keneddy of New Zealand, or our very own ‘Aadi’ tribal culture of Arunachal Pradesh by Tajem Tansunj, an insight of different culture was presented beautifully.

Similarly, Jolton group from Hungary and Nepalese group rendition of Sarnam Gachammi of Buddhism verses also enchanted the present audience.

Dehradun, March 5
One person was killed and nine were injured when a Vikram (three-wheeler) rammed into a truck coming from the opposite direction at a crossing in Raipur here today.

Seven injured were admitted to Coronation Hospital and two in Doon Hospital. The police could not identify the deceased 70-year-old woman.

The driver of the Vikram too was badly injured. The truck driver ran away from the spot while the truck was taken by the police in its possession.

Among those who were injured is Kumkum Bhandari, wife of Samar Bhandari, state secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI).

She sustained multiple injuries on face and arms though her condition is out of danger. Samar Bhandari, who was present in the Coronation Hospital, said he kept his phone switched off when this accident happened as he along with state president of the Samajwadi Party Vinod Barthwal were participating in a political discussion at a local TV channel.

It was later when he got to know about the accident that he rushed to the site. His daughter, who works for a bank, had been transferred from Chandigarh to Dehradun was also with her.

The victim, a schoolteacher, was coming from her mother’s house.

Those who have been admitted to Coronation Hospital are Deen Dyal Yadav, Ram Prasad, Rajni, Kumkum, Sunil Yadav, Rajender Singh and Roop Chand. Those in Doon Hospital are Vijay Pandey and Bhavani. Their family members have been informed by the hospital authorities. None of them is critically injured.

Ravi Kumar, SHO, Raipur, said the Vikram driver was at fault who was going in wrong direction and rammed into a truck which was coming from the opposite direction.

The driver, who has yet to be idenified, is among those who have been admitted to hospital.

Vinod Barthwal, who fought the recent Assembly elections from the Raipur

segment, was also present in the Coronation Hospital enquiring about the health of the injured.

Dehradun, March 5
Vikasnagar (B) and United Scholars won their respective matches in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League Tournament played here today.

In the first match Vikasnagar (B) cricket team defeated B.C.Cricket Club,Vikasnagar, by seven wickets. BC Cricket Club, after winning the toss, elected to bat first and scored a total of 69 runs in 17.4 overs. Neeraj was the top scorer with 34 runs while Raman Kant took three wickets for 17 runs.

In reply, Vikasnagar (B) team scored 70 runs for the loss of three wickets to win the match by seven wickets. Opener Rajesh remained not out on 22 runs. Dinesh also scored 25 runs.

In the second match, United Scholars’ team beat Education Hub Cricket Club by 38 runs. United Scholars, batting first after winning the toss, scored 157 for five wickets in 20 overs. Opener Mohammad Askari scored a century in 64 balls. Surya took two wickets for 18 runs.

In reply Education Hub could score only 119 runs for nine wickets in 20 overs, losing the match by 38 runs. Ashok was the highest scorer with 47 unbeaten runs. Satish took three wickets for 12 runs.