29 die as power cable falls on Bihar procession

Daltonganj, April 13: At least 29 persons were electrocuted and four others seriously injured when a high-tension overhead electric wire s...

Daltonganj, April 13: At least 29 persons were electrocuted and four others seriously injured when a high-tension overhead electric wire snapped and fell on a Ramnavmi procession here late last night, officials said.

They said the 11,000 kva cable fell on the procession when it was passing through the Arya Samaj Mandir road instantaneously killing 20 persons, while nine succumbed to injuries in hospital. Four critically injured processionists were rushed to Rajendra Medical College hospital at Ranchi.

All the victims have been identified and their bodies handed over to their families after autopsy, Palamu divisional commissioner, Amita Pal said.

Talking to reporters, she blamed the Bihar State Electricity Board BSEB for the tragedy saying no official of the board was accompanying the procession despite being deputed by the Palamu district administration.

Pal said the superintending engineer of the BSEB was also out of station for a long time resulting in lack of proper maintenance of the high-voltage cables.

The district public relations officer, who was supposed to accompany the procession as executive magistrate, was also absent, she said.

Meanwhile, a high-level technical and administrative team of the BSEB led by member administration R K Singh has rushed here for conducting an inquiry.

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Talking to the press at Patna before airdashing to Daltonganj, Singh said preliminary reports said the wire snapped as a long flagstaff fitted with Hanumani jhanda came into contact with the cables snapping them.

Meanwhile, a Daltonganj bandh called by RJD, Samata Party, BJP and the Congress to protest against alleged official negligence that led to the tragedy evoked overwhelming response with all shops and business establishments and educational institutions remaining closed and vehicles off the road.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased and government job to at least one member of their families, besides Rs five thousand for the treatment of those injured and medicines free of cost to them.

Meanwhile, in a touching gesture the Muslim community of the town has decided not to take out a procession on the occasion of Muharram on Sunday to mourn the death of those killed in the tragedy, according to the Khalifa of the local Muharram Intazamia committee Sohrab Ali.