Congress’ Jalandhar MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, following which the march was halted for twenty-hours. He was 76. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who visited the grieving family, expressed shock over his death and described him as a hardworking leader and strong pillar of the party.

Chaudhary, a two-time MP, was taking part in the Rahul Gandhi-led march in Phillaur in Jalandhar where he fainted, according to senior party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who was also marching with other yatris.