Rath Yatra tragedy: Connecting Iron rod with high voltage wire seen main cause

5-member probe body formed, Govt to cover medical expenses for victims

FE Team | Published: July 09, 2024 00:36:47

The iron rod on top of the Rath (chariot) may have come into contact with an 11000-volt electric wire as the procession moved towards the Shib temple in the Latifpur area, stated Nesco's executive engineer, report agencies.
Abdul Mannaf, the executive engineer of the selling and distribution department-1 of the Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco), also mentioned that they immediately suspended power supply in the area upon hearing about the electrocution around 5:30 am.
The electrocution during the Rath Yatra (a Hindu religious festival) resulted in five deaths and approximately 40 injuries at Bogura's Seujgari Amtola intersection on Sunday.
A five-member committee has been established to investigate the incident, and the government has provided funds for the deceased's family members for cremation and announced coverage of medical expenses for the victims.
Witnesses reported that a fire broke out after the iron rod on top of the chariot made contact with the live electric wire, causing around 50 people, mostly women, to fall from the chariot onto the road.
Arup Ratan Sheel, a local journalist who participated in the Rath Yatra, said, "Those who were involved in dragging the chariot by holding rope, were alerted by the president of Iskcon committee, Bogura, Kharjita Krishna Das about the high voltage electric wire over the road through loudspeaker. The sounds of the loudspeaker remained unheard due to the huge crowd there."
Asking about why the power cables were kept necked over the road, Mannaf said the electric cables of 11000 voltage are kept open across the country and it's not only in Bogura.
Bogura Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said the local administration has provided Tk 25,000 each to the family members of the deceased for cremation while necessary steps were taken for medical treatment of the victims injured in the incident.
Dr Abdul Wadud, deputy director of Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital, said four people died at the hospital while 38 were undergoing treatment. Of them, two were receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
Besides, one died at 250-bed Mohammad Ali Hospital while three people were undergoing treatment there.