Returning officer on poll duty dies of cardiac arrest

Meerut: A day before polling on Monday, the health of returning officer,

Rashid Ali Khan

, 63, posted at a polling booth in Dhikka Tapri region of Sarsawa, Saharanpur, deteriorated suddenly on Sunday night. He was rushed to a private hospital in

Saharanpur

where he breathed his last, around 1:30 am.

Khan

was a President medal awardee and had got an extension of two years of service.Khan was posted as a teacher in a government school at Sadak Dudhli village in Saharanpur. He had been suffering from heart-related issues for some time. "Investigation has revealed that the deceased had a history of cardiac ailments. His body has been sent for autopsy. There is a provision of compensation prescribed by the Election Commission of India, which will be provided to his family in a day or two," said

Saharanpur DM Akhilesh Singh

.Khan is survived by two sons. His elder son Rameez Khan, told TOI, "My father had taken a car with driver for election duty. In the early hours of Monday, his condition deteriorated. The driver told us was that he was covered in sweat while in the car. He immediately made my father lie on the rear seat and rushed towards the hospital which was 50km away but by the time they reached the hospital, my father was already dead."