A polling official was found dead on Thursday in Sonitpur district during the ongoing Assembly elections, according to officials, reported the PTI.
The deceased, Deben Horo (45), had been deployed as the second polling officer in the Naduar constituency. He was assigned to polling station number 230 at Dolapani LP School.
Officials stated that Horo was found unconscious in his bed on Thursday morning. He was immediately taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
While the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, medical authorities suspect it may have been due to an underlying health condition.
Horo was a resident of Dopdopi Kachari Gaon in the Chariduar revenue circle. He worked as an assistant teacher at a government school, officials added, as per the PTI.
Polls underway
Despite the incident, polling at the booth commenced as scheduled at 7 am. A reserve staff member was deployed to take his place, ensuring that the voting process remained uninterrupted.
Voting for the 126-member Assembly is underway and will continue until 5 pm. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
Man dies after casting vote in Kerala`s Thrissur
Meanwhile, a 62-year-old man collapsed and died after casting his vote at Vaniampara on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Vinodan, a native of Ramanchira near Vaniampara, police said, reported the PTI.
According to police, Vinodan had reached EKM UP School in Vaniampara in the morning to cast his vote. After standing in the queue for nearly an hour, he exercised his franchise. While coming out of the polling station, he suddenly collapsed at around 10.45 am, police said, the news agency reported.
Though people nearby rushed to help seat him on a chair, his condition worsened, police said.
An ambulance soon reached the spot and shifted him to a government hospital, where he was declared dead.
A case will be registered and investigation initiated into the incident, police said, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)