Virbhadra cancels poll meetings in Uttarakhand after kin's death

SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh, who was campaigning for Congress in Uttarakhand, cancelled all election meetings in the state and returned to Himachal Pradesh following the death of his nephew.

Singh was scheduled to address a number of meetings in the poll-bound state and return to Paonta Sahib on February 12 but he cut short his tour after receiving the news of death of Akansh, son of his brother-in-law Arun Sen.

Akash was admitted to PGI, Chandigarh after being hit by a car in the city. Arun is the brother of his wife Pratibha.

The chief minister, who addressed an election meeting at Sahaspur, returned by road to Paonta Sahib and drove straight to Chandigarh, official sources said.

The driver of the car has been identified and efforts are on to nab him, police said.