Bengaluru electrocution: Rat tripped two 11 KV lines leading to a weak point, says senior official

Mahantesh Bilagi, Managing Director, Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Bescom), explained that a short circuit caused by a rodent was the trigger for the accident that claimed the two lives.

On Sunday, around 6 am, the woman, Soundharya, and her daughter were going to her mother’s house. While walking on the footpath, Soundharya stepped onto a wire which had fallen on the road and got electrocuted along with her daughter.

Later, officials said an independent distribution transformer of an apartment near Hope Farm Junction was short circuited by a rodent, leading to the conductor to snap.

According to T N Appachhu, Chief Electrical Inspector, said, “A rat short-circuited two 11 KV power lines due to which a weak point of the conductor broke around 3.45 am on Sunday morning. The supply part of the wire fell on the ground and the load part fell on the pavement. Due to this, there was a temporary power outage. When the line was test charged from the Kadugodi relay station, the line did not trip as the load part was not earthed.”

“The station could not recognise any fault as current was still flowing in the 11 KV conductor,” he said. Soundharya’s husband was unhurt as he was walking on the road, said Appachhu.