Three children and a woman were electrocuted when they accidentally came in contact with a high voltage wire lying near their house at a village in Bargarh district early on Monday. Six more people were injured in the incident at Kumelsingha in Attabira police station area. Police said the deceased belonged to the same family. They were identified as 40-year-old Manju Bhoi, Banmali Bhoi, Arjun Bhoi (8) and Sebati Bhoi (7).
The death triggered tension in the area with villagers alleging negligence on part of the power supply company, Wesco. “The live cable was attached to a transformer near the victims’ house. But the authorities have not taken any step to repair the wire,” a villager said.
Irate villagers blocked the state highway at Kumelsingha, disrupting traffic on the Godbhaga-Sonepur stretch. The agitators demand the power supply company to pay Rs 5 lakh for their negligence to the bereaved family. They called off the agitation following assurances of compensation. The local MLA, Nihar Ranjan Mahananda, held a meeting with Wesco and and district administration. “It was decided that Wesco and the administration would pay Rs 30,000 for each of the deceased to meet their funeral expenses,” a source said.
