The iron rod on the top of Rath (chariot) might have touched 11000 volt electric wire when the procession was moving towards Shib temple in Latifpur area, said executive engineer of selling and distribution department-1 of Northern Electricity Supply Company (Nesco) Abdul Mannaf.
Electrocution during Rath Yatra ((a Hindu religious festival) left five dead and around 40 injured in Bogura’s Seujgari Amtola intersection on Sunday.
The deceased were Naresh Mohanta, son of Bhabani Mohanta of Kundugram village in Adamdighi upazila of Bogura, Atshi, wife of Monteswar of Tinmatha Railgate area of the district town, Ranjita, wife of Sudev of Gohail village in Shahjahanpur upazila, Alok Kumar, son of late Narayan Kumar of Kulupara village in Shibganj upazila and Jolly Saha, wife of Basudev Saha of Sariakandi upazila.
A fire broke out after the iron rod placed on the top of the chariot came in contact with the live electric wire and around 50 people, most of them women, fell down on the road from the chariot, said witnesses.
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.”
Executive Engineer of Nesco Abdul Mannaf, said as soon as they heard about the electrocution around 5:30 am they suspended the power supply in the area.
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.
A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the cause of the deaths from electrocution at the Seujgari Amtala intersection. Bogura Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said that the committee, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Imrul Kayes, has been directed to submit a report within 10 working days.
Govt to cover medical expenses for victims
The government will cover all medical expenses for the victims injured during the Bogura Rath Yatra tragedy, Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen said today.
Two critically injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the burn unit of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. They are not out of danger yet, the minister said during a press briefing following his visit to the burn unit.
“I have spoken with the victims’ families and assured them that we are doing everything possible. The government will bear all medical expenses for the injured,” he reiterated.
Describing the incident as “very tragic,” Dr. Sen mentioned that the Bogura Civil Surgeon and the director of Bogura Government Hospital have been instructed to ensure the victims receive proper treatment.
Prof. Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and other officials from the Health Services Division were also present during the visit.
