A tragic incident in Gaya district on Tuesday morning claimed the lives of three young men after they came into contact with a high-voltage overhead wire. The accident occurred in Khaira village, falling under the jurisdiction of the Khijersarai police station.
Details of the Fatal Incident
The electrocution took place around 11 am. According to officials from the electricity department, the victims were attempting to cross a low-tension (LT) service wire over an active 11KV Khijersarai rural feeder line. This action was performed without informing the department, a procedure deemed illegal.
Ajay Kumar, the Executive Engineer of the Manpur division of the South Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited, conducted a spot inspection. He explained the sequence of events: "Prima facie, one person threw the LT wire over the 11KV line and came in contact with the electric current. Two other men also came in contact while trying to save him, and the trio was electrocuted."
Kumar emphasized that no departmental high-tension (HT) or low-tension (LT) lines were broken during the incident, nor was the 11KV wire itself damaged. The preliminary investigation points to the negligence of the deceased as the primary cause.
Victims and Immediate Aftermath
The deceased have been identified as cousins Nitish (27) and Golu (28), along with their co-villager Satyendra alias Raja (22). After the accident, villagers rushed the severely burned youths to the Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital.
The situation was dire. Two of the men succumbed to their injuries on the way to the hospital, while the third died during treatment. The grieving relatives of the victims have demanded compensation from the electricity department for the loss.
Department's Response and Compensation Question
When questioned about compensation, Executive Engineer Ajay Kumar stated, "Although the fault of the department has not come to notice, if there is any provision for compensation, the same will be given." This statement leaves the possibility open but does not guarantee any payout, as the department's official stance is that the incident resulted from the individuals' own actions.
The tragedy underscores the critical importance of electrical safety and the severe dangers of tampering with or working near live power lines without proper authorization and precautions.
