Patna, November 6: As the first phase of Bihar's assembly elections unfolds, residents of Danapur Diara, a flood-prone area in Patna district, are relying on boats to reach polling stations and cast their votes. The riverine region, situated near Danapur town, has no bridge, forcing locals to wait for boats to navigate through the waters.

One local expressed the frustration of living in the area, saying, "We are waiting for a boat because there is no bridge. If the bridge had been constructed, we would have crossed over on foot. The leaders should focus on building a bridge here." Another resident echoed similar concerns, highlighting the challenge of reaching the polling stations without proper infrastructure: "There is no bridge to cross the water, and we are forced to wait for a boat. A bridge is crucial, not just for voting, but also for ambulances and school buses."

The Danapur Diara region falls under the Danapur assembly constituency, where Ram Kripal Yadav from the BJP and Rit Lal Yadav from the RJD are contesting for the seat. Voting for the first phase of the assembly polls continues until 6 pm, though in some areas, the polling time has been reduced to 5 pm.

As of 1 pm, Bihar recorded a voter turnout of 42.31%, with Gopalganj leading at 46.73%, followed closely by Lakhisarai at 46.37% and Begusarai at 46.02%. However, Patna, the state capital, has seen a slower turnout, with only 37.72% of voters casting their ballots by midday.

Other districts also recorded varying turnout rates, with Bhojpur at 41.15%, Buxar at 41.10%, Darbhanga at 39.35%, and Khagaria at 42.94%. Key constituencies like Raghopur and Tarapur had turnouts of 43.3% and 44.35%, respectively, while Bankipur, which saw a lower turnout of 25%, remains a point of concern.