Shimla: Three polling staff have died while performing their poll duties in Himachal Pradesh today.

The deceased Polling staff include Vineet Kumar of Sapri in Kinnaur district, Devi Singh of Arki in Solan district and Lot Ram of Manali in Kullu district.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has expressed grief over the death of three persons deployed on the election duty for Lok Sabha elections in the state. In his condolence messages to the bereaved families, the Chief Minister said that the state government was with the family members of the deceased in this hour of distress.

An ex-gratia of Rs. 15 lakh each has been announced to the next of the kin of the deceased persons.