Administrative officials in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts have made special arrangements for polling teams who have been sent to booths in remote areas of the districts.

Both districts vote on Friday.

In Alipurduar, polling teams headed for three booths in the Buxa hills on Thursday. They reached Santalabari on vehicles. From there, they started trekking on the hilly terrain to reach the booths. There are around 2,000 voters from 13 hilly hamlets to vote in these booths.

For these teams, the administration has provided backpacks sent by the chief electoral officer of Uttarakhand to carry EVMs and VVPATs.

“Porters have also been hired to carry certain items of the polling teams. The teams had to trek 6km to 10km to reach the booths,” said a source in the administration.

The teams have been given satellite phones because of weak phone network, torchlights and sticks. Webcams have been installed to record the polling process as live webcasting won't be possible.

“Teams reached the booths (around 3,000 feet above sea level) by afternoon. We are in touch,” the source added.

Also, in Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts, arrangements were made to ensure the safety of polling teams sent to booths near Gorumara and Jaldapara national parks and the Buxa Tiger Reserve.

"The state forest department engaged teams to thwart animal attacks. Polling teams have searchlights and emergency lights. In some booths without phone connectivity, radio transmitter sets will be used," the source said.