[kellyhound]

Six villagers were electrocuted and 7 seriously injured while fishing in a pond yesterday morning, after a high-voltage overhead cable snapped and fell in the water.

“As soon as they stepped into the water, they were dragged in and 7 of them died instantaneously,” said a resident.

The deceased have been identified as A. I., R. I., R. I., J. A., M. I. and S...

The injured were admitted to a civil hospital.

The condition of one of them is critical.

Locals said they noticed the snapped 11kV cable early in the morning and reported the matter to the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) power station to shut down the power. The villagers who went fishing did not know about the snapped cable, they said.

“Had the power station officials listened to us, the accident would not have occurred. We want a high-level inquiry,” said a local schoolteacher.

Angry villagers later damaged the residence of an ASEB employee and damaged a vehicle parked outside.

State power minister Tapan Gogoi and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) chairman Jishnu Barua visited the incident scene in the afternoon and instructed the district administration to institute a high-level inquiry into the incident.

The state government also announced Rs 2.5 lakh each for the families of the deceased.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal later ordered an inquiry, to be conducted by Barua, who is also the additional chief secretary.

A statement from the chief minister’s office said the inquiry will ascertain the circumstances leading to the electrocution and submit a report immediately.

It said the “bizarre” incident took place when an overhead high-voltage cable snapped. The deputy commissioner said three personnel of the power station have been suspended.

Congress president Ripun Bora demanded the resignation of the power minister. “Several tragic incidents have taken place over the past two years.

The department has not taken any steps to stop them. Power minister Tapan Gogoi should resign acknowledging his failure to prevent the electrocution,” he said.

Some people alleged the villagers tried to connect an electric motor to the high-voltage cable to pump out water from the pond. However, police ruled out the probability.

[gimlet]

Guess they can't blame their usual criminal negligence on foreigners / Union Carbide this time.

They wreck passenger trains all the time, the families of the dead passengers get something like 1000 USD compensation from the government. That is what their lives are worth in Hindustan.

[FavaBeans]

That one guys is solo getting out those poor boys

[Mr_Shlaapu]

All that for some minnows.

[docfr8]

Must suck to be the tester volunteer to jump in and grab them.. "Are you sure they secured the power".

[REVZZYBAN]

A very pissed off village.

[Oonie]

At least people were trying to help. I think that made it even sadder than usual.

[Gold-V-66]

Wow what a waste of good fish