KATHMANDU: At least 53 rounds of blank fire have been opened in different places of five districts across the country on the day of election today.

The police opened blank fire in polling stations to control the disorderly situation in districts such as Rautahat, Siraha, Chitwan, Dolakha and Bajura, according to Tek Prasad Rai, the central spokesperson of Nepal Police.

Three rounds of blank fire were shot each at Garuda and Kanakpur polling stations in Rautahat district and Mirchaiya Badharamal polling station in Siraha district.

A round of blank fire was shot at Gumbeshwar of Dolakha, 18 rounds in Humla, 17 rounds at Devkota Mavi Kunapani in Humla district and a round of blank fire at Mandhara Mavi at Bhakunda in the same district, five and four rounds each in Bajura and Doti districts, according to him.

The police opened blank fire to disperse the clashing mobs which threatened peaceful polling.

He said that the polling was going on peacefully and that no helicopter has been used so far for the purpose of security.