M A I N   N E W S

29 electrocuted in Bihar

DALTONGANJ (Bihar), April 13 (PTI) — At least 29 persons were electrocuted and four seriously injured when a high-tension overhead electric wire snapped and fell on a Ram Navami procession here yesterday, officials said today.

The sources said the 11,000 kva cable fell on the procession while it was passing on the Arya Samaj Mandir road at 12.15 p.m. instantaneously killing 20 persons. Later, nine succumbed to injuries at hospital. Four critically injured were rushed to a hospital at Ranchi.

All victims have been identified and their bodies handed over to their families after an autopsy, Palamu Divisional Commissioner Amita Pal told reporters.

She blamed the Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) for the tragedy alleging no official of the board was accompanying the procession despite being deputed by the Palamu district administration.

The Divisional Commissioner alleged that the Superintending Engineer of the BSEB was also out of station for a long time resulting in lack of proper maintenance of the high-voltage cables.

Meanwhile, a high-level technical and administrative team of the BSEB led by member (administration) R.K. Singh, has rushed here for conducting an inquiry.

Earlier, at Patna, Mr R.K. Singh said according to preliminary reports the wire got snapped as a long flagstaff fitted with “Hanumani” flag came into contact with the cables snapping them.

Meanwhile, a Daltonganj bandh called by the RJD, Samata Party, BJP and the Congress to protest against the alleged official negligence that led to the tragedy evoked overwhelming response with all shops, business houses and educational institutions remaining closed and vehicles remaining off the road.

The Chief Minister, Mrs Rabri Devi, has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of those killed and government job to at least one member of their families, besides medicines free of cost and Rs 5,000 for the treatment of the injured.

Meanwhile, in a touching gesture the Muslim community of the town has decided not to take out a procession on the occasion of Muharram on Sunday to mourn the death of those killed in the tragedy, according to Khalifa of the local Muharram Intazamia Committee Sohrab Ali.