Devotees pull a chariot carrying the idol of Lord Jagannath.(Representational Image)
Credit: PTI File Photo
Hyderabad: In a tragic incident during Janmashtami celebrations, six people died from electrocution and four others were injured when a chariot carrying Lord Krishna's idol came into contact with live electric wires in Gokhale Nagar, Ramanthapur in Hyderabad, on Sunday midnight.
Five people were killed on the post, while another person succumbed during treatment at a hospital. The incident occurred when the vehicle carrying the chariot stalled during the Sri Krishna Shobha Yatra procession. As approximately ten people pushed the vehicle forward, overhead electric wires made contact with it, causing a fatal electric shock that affected everyone involved in moving the chariot.
The deceased have been identified as Krishna alias Diamond Yadav (21); Srikanth Reddy (35); Suresh Yadav (34); Rudra Vikas (39); Rajendra Reddy (45); and Ganesh (21).
Local residents, initially panicked by the unexpected incident, quickly regained composure and provided first aid before rushing the victims to the hospital.
Doctors confirmed that five people had already died. Four others were admitted to a local private hospital for treatment, but as the situation worsened, another person lost their life, bringing the death toll to six.
The affected families grieved intensely over the sudden tragedy that occurred during their joyful festival celebrations. Parents wept profusely, having witnessed their children's deaths before their eyes. Elderly family members were consumed by grief, wondering who would support them in their twilight years.
Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu expressed profound shock and grief over the tragic incident and directed the concerned authorities to conduct a comprehensive inquiry and take strict action against those responsible.
He instructed officials to ensure such incidents do not recur and to pay special attention to safety standards during public gatherings. The minister also ordered that the injured receive the best possible medical care and sought a detailed report on their health condition.
On Monday, Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL), M D Musharraf Faruqui, along with other electricity department and senior police officials, visited the mishap spot for inspection. However he was gheraoed by the locals alleging that the negligence by the electricity department had led to the mishap.