The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : 14 persons suffer burns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

14 persons suffer burns

Staff Reporter

Accident occurred while erecting flag mast for temple fete

Photo: S. Gopakumar

BATTLING FOR LIFE: People admitted to the Medical College Hospital in the city after suffering burns during a temple festival at Mithirmala on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday.

Thiruvananthapuram: Fourteen festival makers were injured, four of them seriously, when they got an electric shock from an overhead high voltage power line while hoisting a lofty flag mast to mark the beginning of the annual festivities at a temple on the outskirts of the city on Wednesday morning.

The accident occurred at 9.15 a.m. in a small temple at Mithirmala, around 40 km away from here. Members of the local community were erecting a 9.5-metre high flag mast, fashioned from a freshly felled arecanut palm, when its tip accidentally brushed against the 220-KW Edamon-Pothencode number 2 feeder line.

An eye witness told the The Hindu over telephone from Mithirmala that there was a cracking sound and the flag mast splintered into several pieces. About eight persons who were supporting the base of the mast were thrown a metre away from the spot.

The electric current hit some devotees (including a 60-year-old woman identified as Gomati Amma) and a group of drummers who were standing nearby. The splinters from the flag mast struck a few onlookers. There was rain and wind at the time of the accident.

Those who were unhurt rushed the injured to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Kallara. They were later shifted to the Medical College Hospital (MCH).

Sub Inspector (Pangode) K.M.Prasad said at least five of the victims suffered burns. “Their faces and skin appeared dark and there was the faint smell of burned hair and singed flesh,” he said after visiting them at the PHC. Mr. Prasad said the police have registered a case of negligence under section 136 of the Indian Penal Code against the festival organisers.

The seriously injured were identified as Sasi, 19, Shibu, 21, Mohanan, 45, and Prasannan, 40. They have been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

Superintendent, MCH, A. Nizarudeen said the patients were being intravenously administered body fluids and antibiotics to prevent the possible onset of infection. The patients in the ICU have suffered between 30 to 70 per cent burns. Doctors would need at least two weeks to stabilise them, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala