Berhampur: The joyous celebration at Maa Subarnarekha Budhi Thakurani Yatra in Ankorda village under Digapahandi block of Odisha’s Ganjam district ended in tragedy late Tuesday night when a 58-year-old man was electrocuted during the concluding day of the festival.
The deceased, identified as Danardan Raut of Kolidaspur village, had come to his in-laws’ house at Ankorda along with family members to witness the annual yatra. The mishap occurred at around 1.30 am near the temporary yatra pandal while a mythological Ramayana theatre performance was underway before a large gathering.
According to preliminary reports, Raut accidentally came into contact with a switchboard connected to a roadside electric pole amid the bustling gathering. He suffered a severe electric shock and collapsed on the spot. Locals rushed him to Digapahandi Community Health Centre, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The incident triggered panic at the venue, forcing the Yatra Management Committee to halt the Ramayana performance midway.
A police team from Digapahandi reached the spot soon after receiving information and launched an investigation. A case has been registered under Section 106(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on the basis of a complaint lodged by the deceased’s father-in-law Narayan Pradhan. The body was sent to MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, for postmortem before being handed over to the family.
Sources alleged that electricity had been illegally drawn from an 11 KV high-voltage line for the festival arrangements without proper authorisation, raising serious questions over safety measures at the venue.
