Two voters die in polling booths in Tamil Nadu

SALEM: Two voters died in the polling booths in Salem and Kallakurichi Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu on Friday.

One of the deceased has been identified as R Chinnaponnu, 77, of Sentharapatty in Salem district. She visited booth number 250 in Sentharapatty, which is part of the Gangavalli assembly constituency and Kallakurichi Lok Sabha constituency.

According to a police official, she arrived at the booth accompanied by her son. After getting her index finger inked, she proceeded towards the EVM to cast her vote. Suddenly, she collapsed. Her son and others rushed her to the government hospital in Gangavalli. Doctors in the hospital confirmed that she had died. They said the cause of her death was cardiac arrest.

The other deceased voter has been identified as N Palanisamy, 69, of Suramangalam in Salem LS constituency. He collapsed inside a polling booth. "We immediately took him to the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College and Hospital," said an officer at the Salem city police station. Doctors in the hospital confirmed that he was dead. They said cardiac arrest was the cause of his death.