Chikkaballapur
A tragic accident occurred in Chikkaballapur when a young man electrocuted while attempting to hang a traditional Diwali mango leaf garland (talirutore) outside a restaurant. The incident took place at D.K. Family Restaurant in Honnenahalli village around 11:30 a.m. The deceased, Padam, a native of Nepal, was working as a cook at the restaurant.
Padam climbed onto a pan shop adjoining the restaurant to hang the garland. Unfortunately, he came into contact with an overhead 11 kV electric line passing above, resulting in instant death. CCTV footage captured the horrifying moment. Speaking to the media, Ramesh, Executive Officer of Chikkaballapur BESCOM, confirmed the mishap, stating that Padam’s death was caused by his own inadvertent actions. He added that temporary power connections were restored at the restaurant, and authorities have advised ensuring no shops are located directly beneath high-voltage lines to prevent similar accidents.
In a separate incident, two children tragically drowned in a village pond in Badhanavalu, Nanjangudu taluk, on the same day. Eight-year-old Mohit and nine-year-old Arya had gone to the pond to swim during the Dasara holidays. While swimming, they got trapped in an underwater vortex and could not resurface. Mohit was in third grade and Arya in fourth grade. Police personnel, including PSI Basavaraj, retrieved their bodies from the pond.
Villagers demanded that the government provide compensation to the families who lost their children. Both incidents have sent shockwaves through the local communities, highlighting the importance of safety precautions near high-voltage lines and water bodies.
