7 electrocuted to death, 14 injured after chariot touches overhead wire in Tripura

Agartala, June 28 (IANS) At least seven people, including two children, were electrocuted to death while 14 others were seriously injured on Wednesday after a chariot made of iron came in contact with an overhead high-tension wire in Tripura’s Kumarghat area, the police said. Officials said the death toll is likely to increase as many of the injured are stated to be critical. A police spokesman said that the chariot taken out on the occasion of ‘Ulto Rath’, the return journey part of the annual Rath Yatra procession, was carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra.

The police spokesperson told IANS that six injured people have been referred to the Govind Ballabh Pant Medical College and Hospital in Agartala.

“Nine-year-old Diya Ghosh succumbed to her injuries on way to Agartala from Kumarghat,” he said.

Local people were shocked by the sudden mishap, following which Fire and Emergency Service personnel rescued the injured and rushed them to the hospital. Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of people were pulling the rope