Jammu and Kashmir Polls: Over 31% voting recorded till noon

An impressive turn out of over 30% was on Tuesday recorded in 18 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir till noon in the second phase of Assembly elections with voters rebuffing separatists' boycott call.

Nearly 31.44% of the 15.35 lakh electorate exercised their franchise in the first five hours of polling while serpentine queues could be seen at many polling stations as voters waited for their turn braving cold weather. A total of 15.35 lakh eligible voters would decide the fate of 175 candidates, including four sitting ministers of the coalition government.

As per the Election Department, 31.44% polling was recorded in the state till 1200 hours on Tuesday. Gool-Arnas Assembly segment has recorded the highest number of 44% polling followed by Gulabgarh with 42.34%, Reasi with 42.08%, Udhampur with 41.80% and Ramnagar with 40.88%, it said.

Similarly, Chenani with 37.08%, Lolab with 30.88% followed by Poonch Haveli with 30.43%, Handwara with 30.40%, Noorabad with 30.05, Devsar with 30%, Kupwara with 29.82, Kulgam with 28.14, Surankote with 28%, Mendhar with 24%, Karnah with 22.87 and Langate with 22.77 and Homshali Bugh with 11.39%.

Enthusiastic voters braving the chill queued outside polling stations in Udhampur, Poonch, Chenani, Ramnagar and Reasi constituencies, while the voter turnout was low in morning in Gulabgarh, Gool Arnas, Mendhar and Poonch Havelli constituencies of the Jammu region. 120-year-old Alam Din voted at Salotri for development of his area. He was carried by his family members, covering a two-kms foot journey, to enable him exercise his franchise.

Mohammad Rashid along with three others carried his maternal grandfather Mohammad Hussain (aged 107) from a very close border area near LoC to vote at Karmara polling station.