Rath tragedy in Tripura: At least 7 including 3 children dead, 15 injured after chariot touches overhead wire
BANIBRATA DATTA
In an unprecedented Rath tragedy, at least seven people, including three children, were electrocuted to death while 15 others were seriously injured on Wednesday after a chariot made of iron came in contact with an overhead high-tension wire in Tripura’s Kumarghat area, the police said.
Officials said that the death toll is likely to increase as many of the injured are stated to be critical. According to the last available report, seven deceased persons were identified as Sima Pal (33), Sushmita Baidya (30), Rupak Das (40), Soma Biswas (28), Rohan Das (9), Shan Malakar (9) and Priyanka Ghosh (9). Mortal remains of the deceased persons were sent to the Fatikroy morgue.
A police spokesman said that the chariot taken out on the occasion of ‘Ulto Rath’, the return journey part of the annual Rath Yatra procession, was carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra.
The police spokesperson told IANS that six injured people have been referred to the Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital in Agartala.
Local people were shocked by the sudden mishap, following which Fire and Emergency Service personnel rescued the injured and rushed them to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of people were pulling the rope of the chariot taken out by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which came in contact with the 11,000-volt high-tension wire, as proper precautionary measures were not taken.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, who condoled the deaths, rushed to Kumarghat, 150 km north of Agartala, after the incident.
Saha tweeted: “In a tragic incident, several devotees have lost their lives and some others sustained injuries due to electrocution during Ulto Rath Yatra at Kumarghat today. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy. In this difficult time, the state government stands by the side of the affected families.”
Later, Saha announced Rs 4 lakh compensation to the next of kin of the victims, while the injured will be paid up to Rs 2.5 lakh. The Chief Minister also said the government will shoulder the treatment cost. He ordered a probe by a team led by the District magistrate.
Power and Agriculture Minister Ratan Lal Nath has ordered a probe into the tragic incident.
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