A devastating incident in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district has claimed the lives of three members of the same family, highlighting grave concerns over electrical safety in rural areas. The tragedy unfolded on Thursday morning in Malkauli village, where an elderly man, his son, and his grandson were fatally electrocuted while working in their paddy field.
A Chain of Fatal Rescue Attempts
The victims have been identified as Chandreshwar Rai (60), his son Mitthu Kumar (25), and his grandson Vicky Kumar (22). According to police reports from the Kurhani police station, the incident occurred around 11 am.
The sequence of events began when a service wire near the family's house snapped due to a short circuit and fell into the agricultural field. Chandreshwar Rai, who was barefoot and engaged in irrigation work, came into contact with the live wire and was electrocuted immediately.
Witnessing his collapse, his son Mitthu Kumar rushed to his aid but was also electrocuted by the same live wire. In a final, heartbreaking attempt, the grandson Vicky Kumar tried to pull both victims away from danger, only to suffer the same fatal electric shock.
Villagers' Outrage and Protest
Local villagers who arrived at the scene quickly rushed all three men to nearby hospitals. However, doctors declared them brought dead upon arrival. The triple fatality triggered immediate and intense anger among the local community.
Residents pointed fingers directly at the electricity department, alleging severe negligence. They claimed that dilapidated wiring and a lack of maintenance have led to repeated accidents in the area, with this being the most tragic consequence.
In a powerful protest, angry villagers placed the three bodies on the road and blocked traffic. Their primary demand was adequate compensation from the administration for the bereaved family and urgent action to fix the dangerous electrical infrastructure.
Official Response and Ongoing Investigation
Kurhani station house officer Puneet Kumar reached the spot with his team upon receiving information. Police officials confirmed that the deaths were caused by electrocution and engaged in talks with the protesters to pacify the situation and restore order.
SDPO II (west) Animesh Chandra Gyani provided further details, noting that the victims were the father, brother, and nephew of Sonu Kumar, the PACS president. "The bodies have been sent to SKMCH for post-mortem. Further investigation is underway," Gyani stated.
Block development officer Neeraj Ranjan announced that an inquiry would be conducted to ascertain whether there was negligence by the electricity department. He emphasized the critical need for regular inspection and replacement of worn-out wires to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the perilous state of basic infrastructure in some rural parts of the country and the human cost of systemic neglect.
