Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died of a heart attack while participating in the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Punjab this morning. He was 76 years old.

Santokh Singh Chaudhary, the party’s MP from Jalandhar, collapsed during the march in Phillaur was rushed to a hospital in Phagwara in an ambulance, where he died while undergoing treatment.

Rahul Gandhi called off the march and reached the hospital where the veteran Congress leader was admitted,  a party leader said.

The Congress yatra in Punjab had started on Wednesday from Fatehgarh Sahib near Chandigarh.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in his condolence message tweeted: “Deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely passing away of our MP, Shri Santokh Singh Chaudhary. His loss is a great blow to the party and organisation. In this hour of grief, my heart goes out to his family, friends and followers. May his soul rest in peace,” he tweeted.