LUCKNOW: At least 16 people were killed and six others are reportedly injured in a tragic incident of suspected electrocution in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, a north Indian state.
According to government officials, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning (July 19) inside a sewage treatment plant, which was established as part of a flagship program aimed at conserving the river Ganga.
Among the deceased are a police officer and three personnel from the Home Guard, who are believed to have lost their lives while attempting to rescue the police officer. The identities of the remaining victims have not been disclosed at this time.
Indian Authorities Initiate Inquiry to Investigate Electrocution
Government authorities have initiated a magisterial inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Himanshu Khurana, the district magistrate of the area, stated, “How the incident happened will only become clear after a detailed inquiry, but it seems, on the surface, to have happened due to electrocution.”
Chamoli’s superintendent of police Pramendra Dobhal said that the incident occurred last night but was reported to them today morning. He said that the police received a call from the village that a watchman had died of electrocution. However, he said that when the police reached that site to check they found that 21 persons had been electrocuted and critically injured.
According to local media reports, the transformer exploded and electrified the bridge spanning the river.
Meanwhile, torrential rainfall in the plain and hilly areas in Uttarakhand for the last nine days has resulted in an increase in water levels of the rivers.
Electrocution in India is common due to poor electricity infrastructure and safety measures, causing such devastating accidents.
The tragic event has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised concerns about safety protocols at the sewage treatment plant. The flagship program, focused on conserving the revered river Ganga, aims to implement sustainable measures for sewage treatment and pollution control.
