Poll official killed in accident

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Kendrapara, Apr 16:

An official on poll duty died early morning today as he fell from the lorry carrying the polling officials to a polling station in Rajkanika police station jurisdiction in Odisha’s Kendrapara district.

The deceased Pitambar Rout, second polling officer of booth no-24 in Sapalanga village, about 65 km from here, died on the spot as he sustained critical head injury, officials said.

Kendrapara Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale said “the administration has conveyed its deep condolence to the bereaved family. Compensation would be paid to members of his family as per the Election Commission of India guidelines”.

The lorry carrying the poll officials was overcrowded and resulted in the mishap, said sources.

The government employees deployed in poll duty charged gross mismanagement by authorities in the dispatch of polling parties to the polling stations.

“We reported for poll duty at 10 AM yesterday. We waited for hours together. We were asked to leave for the polling station at midnight hours and had to go without dinner. It was a nightmarish experience”, remarked a government employee on poll duty.