Nayagarh: In a tragic incident, a father and son from Baniasahi of Gambharidihi village under Itamati police limits died of electrocution here Friday.
The deceased were identified as Anatha Mahapatra (62) and Bhikari Mahapatra (38). According to family members, Anatha was going to his farmland in the morning when he came in contact with a live electric wire. Hearing his scream, Bhikari tried to rescue his father but he also got electrocuted.
The family members later rushed both of them to the district headquarters hospital where the doctor declared them brought dead.
The family alleged the electricity department’s negligence as reason for the tragedy because the wire was snapped the previous night.
Villagers said the lineman had been asked to fix the snapped wire the previous day itself, but he did not pay any attention.
Demanding compensation, the family members went on to block the National Highway -57, putting the bodies on the road.
Later Tapan Samanta, FEDCO AGM, and Pratap Chandra Beura, tehsildar, Nayagarh, reached the spot and talked to the bereaved family members.
The road blockade was called after the officials reached a settlement with the protesters. As per the agreement, Bhikari’s son and daughter will receive a fixed deposit of Rs 50,000, compensation of Rs 1,25,000 each to the bereaved families and Rs 20,000 from the Red Cross.
Sridhara Pani, additional superintendent of police, said the lineman would be transferred. PNN
