Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Nov 28: When shifting an electric pole of 11 kv powerline for facilitating road widening work at Salethadka - Chakotethadi in Kalanja village, one died and two others suffered serious injuries, after electricity got transmitted through the pole. The incident happened on Friday, November 27.

Employees of a private firm from Moodbidri to which the contract for the said work was entrusted suffered electricity shocks unexpectedly. Pratap (24), who was one among these employees, was a resident of Kadadabettu near Vidyagiri Moodbidri. He was on the pole when the incident happened and instantly died. Two others, Nagappa and Kishore were admitted into a private hospital at Ujire with severe burn injuries. They are said to be recovering.

At around 1 pm on Friday, after the electric pole was shifted, Pratap had scaled the pole for the work of drawing the power cable. The lineman had disconnected the 11 kv powerline in one way. But power was flowing through the cables on the other side of the pole, it is learnt. When Pratap came in contact with the cable, he suffered from severe electric shocks. As power also got transmitted on the line on the other pole where Nagappa and Kishore were working, they too were tossed away from the pole. Pratap died on the spot while the other two suffered burn injuries.

Police circle inspector Sandesh P G, Dharmasthala station sub-inspector Chandrashekhar, and Mescom Beltangady subdivision assistant executive engineer C H Shivashankar, along with other officials visited the spot. A case has been registered in Dharmasthiala police station against the private contractor concerned, holding him responsible for the tragedy.