Jagatsinghpur: Two farmers were electrocuted after coming into contact with a live electrical wire in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district on Monday.
The deceased have been identified as Ajay Sahu and Sagar Bhoi, residents of Benukhanda.
According to sources, the incident took place when the victims were returning from their fields and the rotavator of their tractor got entangled with an underground electric wire laid at a shallow depth of 10–15 inches instead of the safe 5–6 feet. The electric wire snapped, causing the area to get charged with high voltage electricity, electrocuting both young farmers on the spot. Local residents quickly disconnected the power supply line and rushed both victims to the Districts Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared them dead upon arrival.
Following the incident, tension mounted outside the hospital facility as villagers and family members voiced outrage, accusing the electricity department of negligence. They have demanded strict action against those responsible for illegally laying the underground power cable without proper safety protocols. Since both victims were young and sole earners supporting their families, the locals have urged the authorities to provide adequate financial compensation to the bereaved families.