Polling official dies after slipping from lorry

An official on poll duty died when he slipped from a lorry carrying polling personnel to a polling station in Kendrapara district today.
The deceased Pitambar Rout, second polling officer of booth No-24 at Sapalanga village, about 65 km from here, died on the spot, officials said.
The lorry carrying the polling personnel was said to be overcrowded, sources said.
Kendrapara district Collector Nitin Bhanudas Jawale said, "The administration has expressed deep condolence to the bereaved family. Compensation would be paid to his family as per EC guidelines."
Meanwhile, several government employees deployed in poll duty complained of gross mismanagement 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. We went without dinner. It was a nightmarish experience," a cross section of government staffers on poll duty said.