15 electrocuted at Namami Gange site in U’khand

 

 

FIFTEEN people were electrocuted and several injured in an accident at a power transformer at a Namami Gange project site on the banks of the Alaknanda river in Chamoli district, an official said on Wednesday. The dead included three home guards and one policeman, the official said. Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi said that the police had gone to the spot to prepare a report on the electrocution of a person working on the project site late on Tuesday. At that time, a surge of electricity at the same spot hit the police personnel and the curious onlookers, leading to the deaths and injuries. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan told PTI that 15 people died in the accident and added that an investigation is underway.

 

The injured have been admitted to the district hospital while some are being taken by helicopter to AIIMS-Rishikesh. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief over the loss of lives and said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Dhami and enquired about the deaths. Shah took to Twitter to share his feeling about the incident, terming the incident “very sad”. In a telephonic conversation with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, the Home Minister took detailed input about the incident.

 

“Death of people due to electrocution in Chamoli, Uttarakhand is very sad. I talked to Chief Minister @pushkardhami ji and inquired about the incident. The administration is engaged in providing treatment to the injured. I express my condolences to the bereaved families and wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Shah tweeted. President Droupadi Murmu also expressed her condolences over the loss of lives. “The news of the loss of lives in an unfortunate accident in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is extremely saddening. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I wish for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Murmu tweeted in Hindi.