Bihar: 9 Kanwariyas electrocuted to death, three injured

Hajipur (Bihar): At least nine Kanwar Yatra pilgrims were electrocuted to death and three others sustained injuries when they came in contact with a high-tension overhead wire in Bihar’s Vaishali district, a senior official said on Monday.

The incident took place in Sultanpur village in Industrial police station area in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

Officials investigating the matter said action will be taken if lapses are found in anyone’s part.

“Nine pilgrims (Kanwariyas) died and three sustained severe injuries when a high tension overhead wire fell on their vehicle in Sultanpur village under the jurisdiction of Industrial police station in Vaishali district.

“The incident took place in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday when the Kanwariyas were going to Baba Harihar Nath Temple in Sonepur to perform Jalabhishekh,” Rambabu Baitha, Sub-divisional Officer of Hajipur-Sadar, told reporters.

Baitha had earlier said that eight people died in the incident.

The injured persons have been admitted to a hospital where their condition is stated to be stable.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination and the matter is being investigated, he added.