BERHAMPUR: At least two persons including a minor were electrocuted to death in two separate incidents in Gajapati and Ganjam districts in the last 24 hours.
In the first incident, a 37-year-old man died of electrocution while attempting to reconnect a snapped power line at Champanal village under R Udayagiri police limits in Gajapati on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Subas Raita, a resident of Champanal village.
Sources said a power line had snapped from an electric pole located in a farmland near the village. Subas reportedly climbed the pole to reconnect the wire. While attempting to repair the snapped conductor, he suffered an electric shock and died on the spot.
His body reportedly remained hanging from the electric pole for over an hour. Later, the charred body was brought down by police and Electricity department staff and sent for autopsy.
Police said a case of unnatural death was registered. An investigation has been launched to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to the mishap.
Similarly, a 13-year-old boy died after suffering an electric shock while working on a science project at his home in Kairasi village under Khallikote police limits in Ganjam on Saturday evening. The deceased was identified as Bismaya Nahak of Pakshiraj Sahi. He was a Class VIII student of Nilakantheswar high school in Kairasi.
Sources said Bismaya was working on a science project at home when he reportedly conducted an experiment involving electricity. During the process, he suffered a powerful electric shock and collapsed. He was immediately rushed to Khallikote community health centre, doctors declared him dead. A case was registered and his body sent for postmortem.
