Bargarh: In a heart-wrenching incident, a 70-year-old man and his daughter lost their lives while his wife had a close shave after coming in contact with an electric wire Friday.
The deceased were identified as Harishankar Naik and his widowed daughter Prabhati Naik (40) of Lastala village under Attabira police limits in this district.
Police registered a case of unnatural death and launched a probe. The bodies were seized and sent for post-mortem.
According to sources, Prabhati had married Amulya of Ambhasada village under Bargarh block. However, she was widowed after the death of her husband two years back. Her only hopes were her two little daughters – Puja and Liza.
Last Sunday, she brought her two daughters to Lastala after they insisted on seeing their grandparents. The incident occurred while the family was asleep Thursday night.
Around midnight, Harishankar woke up to go to the bathroom. Due to darkness, he tried to go outside by touching the walls of the house. However, due to rain, the wall was wet and he accidentally touched an earthling wire and was electrocuted.
On hearing his screams, Prabhati rushed to the spot and tried to rescue him. But, she too electrocuted after the current passed to her from her father’s body. On the other hand, Prabhati’s mother was also rendered critical in a bid to save the two.
Locals woke up to the cries of the two girls and rushed them to the district headquarters hospital where doctors declared Harishankar and Prabhati brought dead.
Sarpanch Deepak Pradhan visited the family and provided a compensation of Rs 2,000 under the Harischandra Yojana.
The incident has come as a rude shock to the two minor girls. Puja is a Plus II student while Liza studies in Class V, locals said, demanding compensation to bereaved family and assistance for the girls. PNN
