Hyderabad: No safety measures at scores of booths

Safe and swift polling was visibly absent at various polling stations in the city for the GHMC elections. As per the instructions of the State Election Commission, all arrangements were made given the raging pandemic, the officials had claimed, but the reality was otherwise.

Many voters, especially from north and eastern parts of city, alleged that there were no safety measure as many polling booths did not have sanitisers. No thermal guns were used to check the temperature of voters and no safety measures were taken by the staff while providing ballot papers. Polling staff were not wearing gloves while distributing voters slips, alleged many voters.

"I had worst experience this I time. Due to fear of the Covid, I grew skeptic of casting my vote. However, being a responsible citizen, I visited the designated polling station to cast my vote but there were no safety measures," deplored V Ramesh , resident of Jeedimetla.

"No covid protocols were maintained in booths at Uppal, and no social distancing norms were followed. Further, no sanitisers were provided by staff to the voters. Also the saddest part was that the same wooden stick was used for stamping the ballot paper and pen for inking our finger for voters" , said Hari Prasad, resident of Uppal.