Five farm workers charred to death in Andhra fire mishap

AMARAVATI: Five farm workers were charred to death and two others injured when a high-tension power supply cable snapped and fell on the autorickshaw they were travelling in, resulting in a major fire, in Satya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday morning.

The victims were said to be related to each other.

A squirrel climbed on to the electrical pole, causing a short circuit of the wire and the crossarm. “This led to the snapping of the high-tension cable,” AP Southern Power Distribution Company Chairman and Managing Director Haranadh said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dharmavaram, Ramakanth said over phone that five other persons, including the auto driver, jumped out to safety after the fire.

The two injured persons were shifted to hospitals in Dharmavaram and Anantapuramu for treatment.

“A farmer engaged the workers for work in his field and they were proceeding to the nearby village in a seven-seater auto. Suddenly, a high-tension overhead electricity cable snapped and fell on the auto, where there was an iron cot on the top, and caused the fire,” Ramakanth said.

While about six persons, including the driver, managed to jump out, the others were trapped inside the auto as the fire raged.

Five women in their midthirties were charred to death while two more sustained severe burns.

The DSP said further investigation into the case was continuing.

Andhra Pradesh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the tragedy.

The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 10 lakh each to the kin of the deceased.

BJP state general secretary S Vishnuvardhan Reddy also expressed grief over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families.

State Congress president Sake Sailajanath also expressed shock over the incident.

The SPDCL CMD said a technical committee was probing the cause of the accident and a vigilance committee would also conduct an inquiry.