NAMAKKAL: Three painters died of electrocution outside an under-construction building in Namakkal on Friday, after the crane they were on collapsed and came into contact with a high-voltage power line.
The deceased have been identified as V Jothi (45), S Sukumar (45), and M Mukesh Kannan (25), all residents of Erumapatti, Namakkal.
According to Namakkal Town police, the three men had gone up in a crane and were engaged in painting the exterior of the upper floors of the four-floor private hospital building on Tiruchy Road.
Around 9 am, one of the crane’s cables snapped, causing the crane’s boom to come into contact with a high-voltage power line, electrocuting all three workers, according to police.
Sukumar and Jothi died on the spot, while Kannan was rushed to nearby hospital, where he succumbed a short while after, they added. The crane operator is currently absconding, police said. As per sources, a case is expected to be registered against both the crane operator and contractor involved. All three bodies have been sent to the Namakkal Government Hospital for postmortem examination. Further probe is on.