Madhya Pradesh: Poll official dies in car crash in Satna

BHOPAL: A nayab tehsildar who was returning after poll duty was killed as his vehicle rammed a stationary truck in Maihar town of Satna district. Four other personnel have sustained injuries, two of have been admitted at medical college in Rewa.

The incident took place at national highway 20 at around 1.30 am. The officer identified as Ganesh Deshbhartar, 40, was posted as in-charge tehsildar in Nagaud tehsil and was on election duty at Amdara tehsil. The accident took place while he was returning after completing all the work related to third phase of panchayat elections. Apart from the deceased, two patwaris, one revenue inspector and driver of the vehicle have sustained injuries. Two of them are admitted at Sanjay Gandhi medical college and hospital in Rewa.

"The unfortunate incident took place when the work of panchayat elections was completed and everything went well, he was returning after completing final formalities and sending all the poll parties back. Somehow the driver of the vehicle could not see the stationary truck from a safe distance and when he saw it was too close, the driver tried best to avoid but the accident took place. The deceased officer was sitting beside the driver and that portion of the vehicle had hit the truck," district collector, Satna, Anurag Verma told TOI.

Sources said that the officer is survived by his wife and three children, two sons and a daughter.

State election commissioner, BP Singh expressed grief over the death of official on poll duty. Apart from tehsildar, one polling official also died during election duty in Shajapur district. Singh had instructed for paying an ex-gratia of Rs 8 lakh to the kin of the deceased.