Officials panic as 'uninvited guest' arrives at booth during polling hours

CHALAKKUDY: A viper was spotted at the hall of Breeding Farm Food Technology College in Thumburmuzhi, a polling station, around 11 am on Friday. Election officials saw the snake at the window of the spacious hall. There were no voters in the hall at this time. After being informed, forest guards from Konnakuzhi Forest Station caught the snake and took it away. The snake was not seen when the hall was inspected on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, polling was delayed in many booths in the district as the machines were not working. The machines at Alengadu Sankara UP School, Thottipal Farmers' Samajam School, Kalloor Palakkaparambu VLP School, Pulakattukara Little Flower School, Chengalur St. Mary's School, Ambedkar Hall in Randam Kallu, Janata UP School in Panthalloor and Puliparakkunnu School in Chalakudy's Kodakara malfunctioned.

Polling was also delayed by one hour due to machine failure in the 75th booth of the Palapilli Pudukkad Estate Staff Club. It took longer to vote because the beep sound indicating a vote was delayed. Polling continued till night.