Deadly power lines: Four electrocuted in Kottayam over eight days

Deadly power lines: Four electrocuted in Kottayam over eight days
Thomas Joseph (inset) was electrocuted when an electrical wire snapped and fell on him.

Vaikom: Electrocution from snapped power lines and other live cables is a major threat during rains and Kottayam district has witnessed four deaths in such a manner over the last eight days. The latest victim is Thomas Joseph (Padinjare Kalambathara Joy) of Vadakkethil, Kothavara in Thalayazha. He was 70.

Thomas was an electrician. He was electrocuted when he came into contact with an electrical wire that had snapped when a tree on the premises of his own house uprooted and fell on it.

Thomas was riding a scooter when the tragedy took place. He was returning home in the two-wheeler around 1:30pm and had reached the road in front of Pius X Convent near Kothavara Church. Thomas's house is adjacent to the convent and an ‘anjili’ tree on the premises uprooted and fell on the electric cable, snapping it.

The snapped wire landed on the hands of Thomas, who suffered an electrical shock and skidded off the scooter. At that time, it was raining in the area and large puddle had formed at the spot. Thomas and his scooter collapsed into this water.

Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) officials were informed of the matter by local people and the power supply was switched off. Thomas was administered first aid and rushed to Vaikom Taluk Hospital, but he did not recover.

Thomas is survived by wife Annakkutty, children Naomy, Vinu and George and their spouses Sony and Anu.

Apart from the tragic death of Thomas on Monday, the three other electrocutions that took place in the district were at Kaduthuruthy, Ramapuram and Kottayam.

Young woman killed

The first of the four recent electrocution deaths occurred at Kaduthuruthy on October 13 and the tragedy was similar of Thomas’s. The victim was Rasmi, a woman aged 35. Rasmi was riding a scooter along the Appanchira - Keezhur Road when an electric line snapped near the transformer at Kalarikkalthazhe and fell on her arms. Rasmi did not survive the electrical shock.

Wife of Prasanth, residing at Ulladamkunnel, Poozhikkol in Kaduthuruthy, Rasmi worked as a coordinator at a dental care firm in Muvattupuzha.

Earth wire proves deadly

The second death occurred at Ramapuram on October 14 and the victim was Ramani (65), wife of late Gopalakrishnan. She was electrocuted after touching an earth wire installed for a temporary connection obtained to build a new house.

Fatal contact with 11 kV line

Another electrocution took place at Kottayam town on October 19. A K Sathyan (51) of Kalabhavan, Kanjiram was engaged in changing the name board of a lodge above the two-storeyed building when he fatally came into contact with an 11 kV overhead power line.

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