Prem Lal stood punctually at the sub-divisional magistrate’s office on a chilly Thursday morning, the crisp air foretelling the trials ahead. As one of the 29 booth-level officers dispatched from Kaza to polling stations in Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, Lal anticipated the demanding days ahead.

Sporting sunglasses to shield against the glaring sun, the trained graduate teacher joined the others in a semi-circle. The SDM, clutching a sheaf of papers, announced the names of the poll-booth officers and their tasks.

For Lal and his five-member team, Tashigang was the designated spot. Nestled in the icy Himalayas at an astonishing altitude of 15,256 feet, Tashigang claimed the title of hosting the highest polling station in the world.

Situated near the India-China border, the Spiti valley formed part of the Mandi Lok Sabha seat, one of Himachal Pradesh’s four parliamentary constituencies and India’s second-largest. The electoral battle pitted Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Congress’s Vikramaditya Singh.

The polling station at Tashigang, serving 62 voters from Tashigang and Gete, had been transformed into a model polling booth. The journey to Tashigang, lasting an hour and a half, presented challenges akin to the formidable landscape itself — rugged terrain, winding dirt roads, and capricious weather.

Yet, for Lal and his team, the assignment held a profound purpose. In a domain where the harsh environment dictated life’s contours, facilitating the democratic process was both a “duty and an honour”.

“I’ve been part of a team that conducted elections at Hikkim (also in the Spiti valley), the second-highest polling station in the country, in the past. So, I have some experience,” Lal remarked, chuckling, as he strode towards a white Bolero car, EVM in hand.

Pausing momentarily, he added, “Thoda dikkat to hoga (there will be some difficulties),” acknowledging the challenges ahead, particularly for those unaccustomed to such rugged terrain devoid of mobile connectivity and with limited power supply. But preparations were meticulous.

“The team will be equipped with a satellite phone, and runners will be deployed to relay polling data to the headquarters,” Additional District Commissioner Rahul Jain informed PTI. “The terrain is tough, but our teams are committed, and we’ve made all the necessary arrangements,” he affirmed.

As the journey commenced, the paved road quickly gave way to a narrow, uneven dirt path. The brown hills flanking either side were adorned with white patches of snow, slowly melting under the sun’s gaze. In some areas, water from the thawing snow pooled on the dirt road, posing a hazardous obstacle.

The landscape, though breathtaking, was utterly desolate. A smattering of brightly colored houses punctuated the brown expanse. For miles around, there was nothing but solitude, with mobile connectivity either non-existent or severely limited, often leading travelers astray.

The polling station, a yellow structure with the tricolour adorning its front, perched atop a hill, stood eerily deserted. Save for wild grass, vegetation was scant. “Highest polling station of India, Tashigang – 72. Altitude – 4,650 meters,” proclaimed a message painted in blue and white on the front wall.

“Swagatam. We heartily welcome all the voters to the world’s highest polling station,” greeted the Hindi inscription on the colorful-frilled welcome board.

Upon reaching the polling station, a Gujarat police officer accompanying the polling party stepped out to make a call home, only to find no network. “Lag nahi raha hai (the call is not going through),” Takor Mahtoji remarked, tension replacing his earlier smile.

“This is the first time I’ve ascended such heights. The temperatures here are bone-chilling for someone unaccustomed to such cold conditions. I didn’t carry warm clothes and had to purchase new ones upon reaching Kaza,” Mahtoji remarked. Kumar Prince, the micro-observer for elections at the Tashigang polling station, hailed from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur and worked as a bank clerk.

“While temperatures soar to 50 degrees Celsius in other parts of the country, here, it’s an entirely different world. This task assigned to us is both special and important. If we don’t involve people in these remote terrains in the democratic process, how can we claim to be the strongest democracy?” Prince pondered.

During summer, Tashigang experienced temperatures ranging from 5 to 20 degrees Celsius. However, sudden weather fluctuations could cause the mercury to plummet. On May 30, snowfall greeted the polling party and security personnel, with nighttime temperatures dropping to minus 5 degrees Celsius.

Winters, harsh and unforgiving, saw temperatures plummeting to as low as minus 35 degrees Celsius. Buried under snow, the hills remained cut off, with the dirt road linking Tashigang to Kaza rendered impassable, confining families to their mud-and-brick abodes for six months, recounted Tanzin Takpa (54), a Tashigang resident.

“In February, a pregnant woman had to be ferried to the hospital in Kaza on a yak for delivery. She was fortunate,” Takpa reminisced. Tashigang lacked hospitals, clinics, schools, or markets. Residents journeyed to Kaza, roughly 30 kilometers away, for medical and other necessities, Takpa elucidated.

The low oxygen levels at such altitudes posed respiratory challenges. The biting cold tested the mettle of newcomers to the higher hills. Adjusting to the local milieu could take days, if not weeks, observed Kalzang Namgial (40).

This marked the fourth occasion of polling at Tashigang, which had held the distinction since 2019 as the highest polling station globally. In November 2022, all eligible voters cast their ballots despite the bone-chilling conditions, informed Jain.

A pink-and-white tent served as a resting spot for voters at one end of the polling station. The single-story building, painted a cheery yellow, boasted two rooms on each side. A vehicle transported blankets and mattresses for the polling team and security personnel, aided by women from the state’s public works department.

On the ground floor, male and female PWD workers prepared tea and dinner for the polling team and security personnel. A young woman adorned the polling rooms with vibrant balloons, her non-local appearance conspicuous.

Gaira Raba, an Israeli tourist, journeyed to Tashigang to offer her assistance. “Having been in India for a month, I arrived in the Spiti valley a few days ago, where I learned about the world’s highest polling station. People spoke of the immense difficulty in reaching this place and the harsh climate. I couldn’t pass up the chance to witness something so extraordinary. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Raba expressed.

Lanzom (18), the youngest voter in nearby Kee village, lent Raba a helping hand. “Observing the polling team facilitate the electoral process in such adverse climatic