Lucknow: Two women were burnt to death when a high-tension wire, carrying 11,000kW, fell on them in Babugarh village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district. Shanta Devi (55) and Kiran Devi (48) lost their lives while collecting wood and fodder in a field near their village on Friday evening.
A witness to the incident, 48-year-old Manish Kumar, said, “We heard distressing screams and rushed to find two individuals engulfed in flames. Despite our attempts, we couldn’t extinguish the fire. Both women suffered severe burns before our eyes.”
Upon receiving the information, the police promptly reached the spot. Unfortunately, when they arrived, the victims had already sustained extensive burns. Initially hesitant, villagers and family members eventually agreed to claim the bodies after receiving assurances of compensation from the officials.
Umar Pal (67), a local farmer, expressed concern about the constant threat posed by high-tension lines passing through their fields. He stated, “We’ve repeatedly urged board officials to relocate these lines, but our pleas have gone unanswered. Our crops have been destroyed multiple times, risking not just our livelihoods but also people’s lives.”
Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Sunita Singh addressed the matter, saying, “The bodies, severely burnt, were sent for post-mortem examination. The electricity board officials have been instructed to provide compensation to the grieving families.”
