Loisingha: Two women workers engaged as agricultural labourers were electrocuted while two others sustained injuries after an 11kv wire got snapped and fell on them Monday.
The incident was reported from Gandapali under Loisingha police limits in Bolangir district. The deceased were identified as Daimati Sahu (55), wife of Mahadev Sahu, and Rebati Sahu (45), wife of Shanti Sahu. The injured were Rashmita Sahu (18), daughter of the farmland’s owner Narottam Sahu, and Tapisa Sahu (40), daughter Daimati.
Villagers rescued the injured and rushed them to Loisingha government hospital. The incident triggered outrage among the locals who blamed it on the negligence of the electricity department and demanded compensation for the bereaved families.
According to sources, at least 15 women were engaged in transplanting paddy saplings at the farm. One of them a transformer installed near the paddy field collapsing as the ground was wet due to incessant rain. She alerted everyone to escape but Daimati and Shanti failed to run due to the mud in the field.
An 11kv electric wire got snapped and fell on them, leading to their death on the spot. Rashmita and Tapisa also sustained burn injuries. Irate locals claimed that the utility poles were planted just 200 metre beneath the ground without digging enough. They also alleged the electric department had not cemented the basement of the poles that led to the mishap.
Agalpur BDO Dikhit Behera and additional tehsildar Priyaranjan Kumbhar reached the village and took stock of the situation. They provided a compensation of Rs 20,000 from the District Red Cross Fund and Rs 2,000 each to the bereaved families under the Harishchandra Yojana.
On the other hand, locals were outraged as no official of power discom WESCO reached the spot. They sought action against the contractor who had installed the poles. The villagers also demanded a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the bereaved families and medical assistance for the injured.
The officials assured the villagers of taking up the matter with the sub-collector and WESCO authorities. The bodies were seized and sent for post-mortem to the district headquarters hospital. PNN