MUSTANG: Snow clearance has begun on the road leading to the Sangta polling station in Baragung Muktikshetra–5 (Mustang–Dolpa) in preparation for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.
Ward Chairperson Surendra Gurung said snow removal work started Tuesday to allow vehicle movement along the route, which has remained completely blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Sangta village, situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters above sea level northwest of Mustang’s district headquarters Jomsom, is considered one of the most remote settlements in the district. The polling station is located at Himali Basic School, about 40 kilometers from Jomsom. There are 39 registered voters in the village.
Due to harsh winter conditions, residents of Sangta, near the Mustang-Dolpa border, migrate to lower areas before December each year. Most are currently staying with relatives in villages around Jomsom, while others have traveled to Pokhara and Kathmandu to escape the cold. Apart from a few herders tending livestock, the village remains largely deserted during winter months.
Sangta has only 13 households, and residents typically return in Chaitra-Baisakh when temperatures rise. However, this year they are required to return earlier to cast their votes in the upcoming election.
Earlier, a team from the District Security Committee attempted to inspect the polling station but had to turn back midway due to heavy snow blocking the road. Although most polling centers in Mustang have been monitored, the Sangta polling station could not be inspected because of the weather-related obstruction.
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