Korei (Jajpur): A farmer was electrocuted after he came in contact with a hanging electric wire over his farmland at Rehmanpur village under Korei block in Jajpur district Friday. The deceased was identified as Rabindra Mallik alias Rabi (46) of the same village.
The incident comes in the wake of repeated deaths of elephants and tuskers due to electrocution after they came in contact with live sagging wires. The incident has spread tension in the area as angry villagers blamed it on the irresponsibility of the electric department.
According to sources, Rabi as usual woke up in the morning and after breakfast went to call his farm hands to work in his paddy field. Before anybody was ready, he left for the farm.
However, he accidentally came in contact with a low-lying 33kv electric wire over the farmland and sustained severe burn injuries.
Other farmers, working nearby, heard his screams and rushed to his rescue. They alerted his family members who rushed him to Korei community health centre (CHC). However, the doctors declared him dead upon arrival.
Following the incident, locals alleged negligence of the electricity department and demanded action against the errant officials. They alleged the electric wires to be lying in dangerous condition, putting the lives of both humans and animals at risk.
Despite repeated complaints, the electric department was not taking any steps to replace the old wires with new ones. On the other hand, sagging and snapped wires were left dangerously without repair, villagers alleged.
Rabi was the sole breadwinner for the family and is now survived by his wife and six minor daughters. Locals sympathised with Rabi and demanded necessary compensation for his bereaved family.
“Rabi was a poor farmer. Who will take care of his widowed wife and children? We want justice for his family and action against the electric department officials,” a fellow farmer said.
Meanwhile, police seized the body and sent it for autopsy. A case of unnatural death was registered and a probe was launched. A probe is on and action will be taken as per law if someone is found guilty, a senior police official said.
It may be noted here that seven elephants, in search of food, died of electrocution after coming in contact with a low-lying power line in Dhenkanal district October 27.
PNN
