What Happened to the Two Children Electrocuted Near a Durga Puja Pandal in Jabalpur?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two children tragically lost their lives to electrocution during Durga Puja festivities in Jabalpur.
- The incident raised serious concerns about public safety measures at events.
- An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause and accountability.
- The local government is providing financial support to the victims' families.
- Calls for enhanced safety protocols at public gatherings are being emphasized.
Jabalpur, Sep 25 (NationPress) In a tragic event during the Durga Puja festivities in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, two young lives were lost due to electrocution near a pandal in the Bargi Hills area.
This unfortunate incident occurred late on Wednesday night. The deceased, identified as Ayush Jharia, aged 8, and Ved Shrivas, aged 10, had attended the ‘aarti’ ceremony at the pandal situated in front of the Chief Engineer’s Office.
As per eyewitness accounts and police updates, the children came into contact with an iron pipe that was conducting an electric current, part of the external lighting decorations surrounding the pandal.
The incident transpired around 9 p.m., inciting panic among the devotees present at the scene. The children collapsed instantly after the shock and were swiftly transported to the medical college hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.
After the Panchnama proceedings, the bodies were sent for a post-mortem examination. Initial investigations indicated that although the organizers had established a safe electricity connection for the pandal, the external decorations were powered through hazardous wiring, which led to this fatal incident.
The Tilwaraghat police have initiated a case and are conducting a formal investigation.
City Superintendent of Police Ashish Jain confirmed that an FIR will be registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
In light of this incident, Jabalpur Collector Raghavendra Singh has formed a three-member committee led by Gorakhpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anurag Singh to investigate the factors contributing to the electrocution.
This committee has been tasked with examining all potential aspects and is expected to submit its report within three days.
Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and instructed the district administration to offer financial compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the grieving families through the Red Cross. He stressed the importance of stringent safety measures during public gatherings and urged organizers to ensure secure electrical setups to avert similar tragedies in the future.