Woman, toddler electrocuted after stepping on live wire 'hanging' on footpath in Bengaluru’s IT corridor

Bengaluru: A 23-year-old woman and her nine-month-old baby died after stepping on a live electric wire on a footpath near Hope Farm in Whitefield, East Bengaluru, on Sunday morning, a horrific incident that once again showed how civic spaces remain perilous in the tech hub.

Around 6 am, Soundharya was walking with her husband on the footpath holding the infant in her arms and speaking on the phone with her mother.

As soon as she stepped on a maze of cables strewn on the footpath, she and the baby were electrocuted. Officials said the live wire was hidden among the optical fibre cables. 

The trio was returning from Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, where Santosh works at an electronics retail store, and heading to Soundharya’s paternal home in AKG Colony after celebrating Deepavali.

Santhosh said that they deboarded the bus at the Hope Farm Junction to catch another bus to AKG Colony.

"I was on the road and the two were on the footpath,” a distraught Santhosh told DH. "Soundharya did not notice the live electric wire in her path and stepped on it, and both immediately caught fire. I tried to help but I was thrown back onto the ground.”

Soundharya and the toddler, Suviksha, were electrocuted, police officials said.

Viral video footage on social media showed the mother and the toddler lying motionless on the road while smoke was emanating from their charred bodies. A luggage trolley and another bag were scattered.

Some passersby immediately informed the Kadugodi police who arrived at the spot and began the probe.

Whitefield Rising, a citizen forum, posted on X (formerly Twitter): “How could a live wire be just hanging? Thousands of people walk on this footpath next to bus stop. Metro is just a walk away. This is criminal negligence. A young lady, whose life has been brutally taken away. A rolling bag with her belongings at the side, standing mute witness to the tragedy.”

Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan posted on X: "The electrocution at Hopefarm Junction, where a young woman lost her life, is heartbreaking and highlights the urgency for BESCOM to adopt preventive measures. A heightened sense of responsibility from BESCOM is crucial in averting such incidents and ensuring a safer environment."

Five officials booked

Kadugodi police have arrested five Bescom officials — Shree Ram, Executive Engineer; Subramanya, Assistant Executive Engineer; Chetan, Assistant Engineer, Whitefield Division; Rajanna, Junior Engineer, Whitefield Division; and Manjunath, Station Operator, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Whitefield) Dr Shivakumar Gunare.

The five were booked under IPC Section 304A (causing death by negligence), which is a bailable charge.

The suspects were detained by the police shortly after the incident occurred in the morning and the arrest procedures were completed towards the evening after a few rounds of questioning. They would likely be released on station bail after obtaining surety that they would be present whenever called for an inquiry, a well-placed police source said.

Probe ordered: Minister

Energy Minister K J George on Sunday afternoon said that an inquiry was ordered into the incident.

“The line man, AE and AEE have been suspended for dereliction of duty. Anyone else responsible for this accident will be dealt with tough actions, so that such mishaps do not recur in the future,” the minister posted on X (formerly Twitter).