Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, May 15: Forestry college at Ponnampet in Kodagu district saw the death of a student due to electrocution on Thursday May 14 during practicals. A first year degree student was killed after the ranging rod he was holding came in contact with live wire.

The deceased has been identified as Ranjith (19), son of Kuriya and Valsa couple from Sampaje village. Practical class was being held at the research centre within the college premises, when this unexpected catastrophe occurred.

On Thursday morning, over 30 BSc degree students had gathered at the research centre for the practical class. Experiment was in progress with the help of a ranging rod that is about eight feet long. At about 11.30, the ranging rod held by Ranjith accidentally came in contact with the 11 kv high voltage power line passing above. Ranjith fell unconscious, and was taken immediately to the community health centre at Gonikoppal, but without responding to treatments, he died at the hospital.

Field supervisor, Manjunath, speaking to media persons, blamed Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company for failing to raise the height of the power cables here, which are dangling just ten feet above the ground, although the company had been requested many a time to increase the height of the power cables.