Tragedy in Mandla Hirapur village; electrical department investigating whether the accident was caused by a fallen wire or short circuit
Bhopal: Four youths were killed and three others injured after an electric current spread through a Ganesh festival pandal in Hirapur village under Nainpur police station limits in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh, early Saturday morning.
The deceased have been identified as Jainu Bhaware (19), Ravi Jharia (24), Krishna Kumar Bhaware (18) and Virendra Bhaware (24). One of the injured, identified as Priyanshu, was reportedly in serious condition and was shifted to the district hospital for further treatment.
According to Sub-Divisional Police Officer Manish Raj, members of the Ganesh festival committee returned to the village at around 4 a.m. after immersing the Ganesh idol. Seven youths then stayed inside the pandal to guard the items and materials used in the tableau.
Manish Raj told IANS that an electric wire came into contact with the pandal, resulting in an electric shock to the youths sleeping inside. Four of them died, while three others were injured.
Police and Administration Begin Investigation
After receiving information about the incident, police and district administration officials reached the spot and began an investigation.
Officials said the pandal was a permanent structure and the exact cause of the accident had not yet been established. A team from the electricity department was examining whether the current spread because an electrical line broke and fell onto the structure or whether the incident was caused by a short circuit.
The bodies of the deceased were sent for post-mortem examinations, while the injured were taken for medical treatment. Further investigation is underway.
Villagers Recall the Tragic Night
Sarpanch Premchand Bhaware said that local children and youths regularly stayed inside the pandal at night. After the idol immersion, the youths returned to the village and decided to remain there to guard the belongings.
According to a local woman, the youths had been celebrating the Ganesh festival with enthusiasm and had no indication that the night would end in tragedy. She said the victims were between 17 and 24 years old and that the incident had left the village in mourning.
