One more kanwariya died from electrocution after a vehicle of the devotees came in contact with a high-tension overhead wire in the Bhawanpur area of Uttar Pradesh's Meerut district, taking the death toll in the incident to six. Confirming the death toll, District Magistrate Deepak Meena on Sunday told news agency PTI that a magisterial inquiry committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the additional district magistrate (administration) to probe the causes of the accident.
As per Bhawanpur police station, the deceased were identified as Prashant Saini (14), Himanshu Saini (16), Mahendra Saini (45), Lakhmi (45), Manish (18), and Lakshya (12), PTI reported.
Earlier, five people were reported dead and four others were said to be injured after a vehicle they were travelling in came in contact with a low-hanging overhead wire in the Bhawanpur area of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday evening. According to an ANI report, the incident occurred in the Rali Chauhan village where a group of Kanwariyas, worshippers of Lord Shiva, were returning from Haridwar.
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Locals reached the spot and rushed the 10 Kanwariyas to the hospital, where five of them were pronounced dead. Meanwhile, the other five victims were being treated and the condition of two was reported to be critical, as per ANI.
"Five Kanwariya pilgrims were electrocuted to death and five others were admitted to a hospital after their DJ vehicle brushed against an 11KV power line”, Meerut DM Deepak Meena told ANI.
Meena further said that a team of doctors and officials have been allocated to provide any assistance to the injured.
Following the incident, angry villagers staged a protest, demanding action against the electricity department officials over their negligence that led to the incident, reported ANI. Additional force was deployed to avoid any untoward incident.
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