Two men died, and as many as six others suffered electric shocks when a live wire fell on their tractor-trolley carrying a Durga idol for immersion after the Navratri festival in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district shortly after midnight on Thursday, police said.
The incident triggered a protest, with local residents blocking a road in Majhauli on Thursday morning. Locals claimed that they had informed police, administration officials and members of the organising committee about low-hanging power wires during a meeting and had urged them to get them fixed. However, no action was taken, they added. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.
The incident occurred at 12.04 am in the Majhauli police station area, about 30 km from the district headquarters, where more than 50 people were taking the idol in a procession from Civil Line Path for immersion in Narili pond, they said. Vikas Rajput (22) and Prince Chauhan (23), who were sitting on the tractor, died on the spot, Sub Divisional Officer of Police Mohanti Maravi told PTI over the phone.
A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway into the incident, the police said.
