Couple electrocuted, sustain severe burns in Holi festivities

HOLI CELEBRATIONS took a horrid turn for a couple after they were electrocuted by a hightension wire and sustained severe burn injuries. Their relative, his son, and a tenant were injured as well.

The incident took place in East Delhi’s Mandawali on Monday afternoon, officers said. DCP (East) Apoorva Gupta said the couple, Inderjeet Majhi (32) and Sonali (22), are in critical condition with 70 and 100 per cent burn injuries.

According to a senior police officer, the five were playing Holi on the terrace of their house. One of them sprayed water from a water gun which ended up falling on a high-tension wire dangling very close to the terrace floor, around 10 metres away. “This caused a blast and led to sparks spreading in the area, electrocuting them” added the officer.

The DCP said they received information from the Mandawali police station regarding the incident at 11.52 am. Local police, along with an ambulance and the fire brigade, reached the spot and rushed the injured persons to LBS Hospital. They were then taken to Safdarjung Hospital.

Police said their relative, Devender (42), his son, eightyear-old Naksh; and the tenant Rambabu (31) sustained minor burn injuries.

The DCP said that while no case has been made out in the incident, BSES was informed about the incident following which the discom sent a team to the spot.

A neighbour and eyewitness, Ravi Shankar, said he heard a loud blast from the terrace of the adjacent building which was caused by a spark.

“They were playing Holi on the terrace when there was a sudden burst of flames from the wire which was hanging very close to the terrace... as the spark spread, it hit six of them, which included the minor boy of the landlord,” he added.

An officer said that it is suspected that one of the persons was also in contact with the high-tension wire.

Express The incident took place in East Delhi’s Mandawali on Monday when the five were playing Holi on the terrace.