Short spells of rain in the city and its suburbs claimed five lives, including a labourer from West Bengal, a child and an EB lineman, who were electrocuted in separate incidents reported on Saturday.
In Porur, a labourer from West Bengal, Babu Sheik (19), who had been working at a site for a private hospital, was electrocuted on Saturday when he was baling out rainwater from a pit dug up for the construction of a lift in the building with help of a motor, the police said.
They said that the motor reportedly had an electric leakage. The SRMC Police said they awaiting the arrival of his relatives from WB to get his personal details.
In another incident, a private company manager, Prakash Joy (30), living in an apartment on Arcot Road, was playing badminton with his neighbours when tragedy struck. Police said the apartment occupants had celebrated a child’s birthday, following which they were playing a game of shuttle. They had to stop the game midway as the skies opened up. While removing the badminton net, Prakash accidentally stepped on a wire, which had snapped earlier but was reportedly fixed with insulation tape.
He fell unconscious due to the shock and was rushed to a private hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. The KK Nagar Police registered a case.
In Sengalsulai near Gummidipoondi, private company contract labourer Mani (25) was on his way to work on a bicycle around 5 am. Police said a cable carrying 12 KV power had snapped from its pole near Elanur village reportedly due to rain and had fallen on the road. Mani, who did not notice it, stepped on it, killing him on the spot. The incident led to a protest by the locals, who alleged that the cable had snapped earlier itself.
In Pallikaranai, police said three-year-old Tinkle, daughter of construction labourer Panchidas of Orissa, died on Sunday after she touched an iron rod that was in contact with a live electric cable in a building site. The place where the girl was electrocuted was wet after the rains, the police said.
In yet another incident in Mylapore, police said Electricity Board lineman Ramesh (40) was fixing a clamp in a transformer on Dr Radhakrishnan Salai on Sunday evening, when he was electrocuted. A case was registered.