Migrant labourer couple electrocuted at chicken farm in Thrissur

A man and his wife, both migrant labourers from Assam, were electrocuted at a chicken farm in Thalassery, Thrissur, where the duo were employed, on Sunday morning. The deceased have been identified as Shafikul, 26, and his wife Ruksana, 22.

According to Cheruthuruthy police, the incident occurred when the couple went to feed the chickens at the farm owned by Ashraf. “Preliminary probe states that they were electrocuted on the live fencing surrounding the farm,” police told Onmanorama.

Desamangalam panchayat president Sandhya said the couple had arrived at the farm with their two children, a girl and a boy, about a month ago to work there. The family lived in a shed near the farm, surrounded by a rubber estate. Another family was also working at the farm.

According to Sandhya, the couple went to feed the chickens and tripped and fell on the electric fencing installed around the property to keep wild boars away. “When they were not seen for some time, the other family went looking for them and spotted them around 9 am,” she said. “We suspect one of them fell first and the other tried to rescue, resulting in both being electrocuted,” Sandhya added.

The bodies of the deceased have been shifted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital. Further investigation is underway.