New Delhi: In a tragic accident, former diplomat to Pakistan Vipin Handa, who was expelled in a tit-for-tat action, died when a lift collapsed at a complex of Central government offices.

Handa, director in Cabinet secretariat, was in a lift on his way to attend an official meeting at the multi-storeyed Central government offices' (CGO) office building in Central Delhi's Lodhi Road at 10.45 am (IST) when the elevator gave way.

While three other persons in the lift managed to get out, Handa, who was to follow them, got trapped in the elevator, which went down crashing.

Sources said the lift developed a snag and Handa was trapped between the lift's cabin panel and the floor.

They said the body of Handa was pulled out after force-opening the cabin roof panel with the help of fire service and in-house maintenance and engineering staff.

Handa was rushed to AIIMS hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Delhi police registered a case and investigations began into the cause of the incident. A team of senior Delhi police officials visited the site.

A 1980 batch officer of Indian Customs Services, Handa is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Handa was among the four staffers of Indian High Commission in Pakistan, who were expelled on January 23 this year.

PTI