Comedian Jaspal Bhatti dies in a road accident

Actor and satirist Jaspal Bhatti died in a road accident near Punjab's Nakodar town, 40 km from Jalandhar, on early Thursday, police said in Jalandhar.

Bhatti's car collided with a tree along the highway while he was on his way to Jalandhar for the promotion of his latest film Power Cut.

Police said that the accident happened around 3am while Bhatti was on his way to Jalandhar from Bathinda.

Bhatti, 57, was rushed to a hospital in Jalandhar after the accident where doctors declared him dead.

His son, Jasraj, was also injured in the accident along with the film's heroine Surili Gautam and another person.

Jasraj, who was driving the car and film's heroine Suril Gautam were injured and rushed to a hospital at Jalandhar.

They were being treated in a hospital in Jalandhar, 150 km from state capital Chandigarh.

The cremation is expected to take place later this evening after his body is brought here after completion of various legal formalities, including post-mortem, Sharma said.

Bhatti leaves behind his wife Savita, a son and a daughter.

Bhatti's latest film Power Cut, which he had produced and directed, was to be released on Friday. The film was to launch his son, Jasraj.

Sources close to Bhatti said that he was on a 40-day tour for the promotion of his latest film.

The tour was to end Thursday with a media conference in Jalandhar.

Bhatti had been a popular face on television and Bollywood films with his comedy shows and appearances.

His TV shows Ulta-Pulta and Flop Show had entertained TV audiences in late 1980s and 1990s.

He also directed a film Mahaul Theek Hai, a satire on the police, administration and society, in 1999.

(With PTI and IANS inputs)