Lucknow: Four persons, including an Uttar Pradesh Police constable, were electrocuted during religious preparations in Narwar village when a wet bamboo pole contacted a 400kV high-tension wire. The victims - identified as constable Ravindra Yadav (29), his brother Gorakh Yadav (23), Chotelal Yadav (35) and Aman Yadav (19) - were declared dead at Fatima Hospital, Mau. Three others sustained severe burns.
The tragedy occurred during morning preparations for Kashi Das Poojan, when participants attempted to raise a bamboo flagpole decorated with mango leaves near the Rihand Project power lines.
SDM Kasimabad Sanjay Yadav confirmed the event organizers had not obtained mandatory permissions for the gathering. Eyewitnesses reported nearly 200 people present when the accident occurred at 7:30 AM. The constable, posted in Ambedkar nagar's Tanda police station, had joined the service in 2018 and is survived by his wife and infant daughter.
Energy Minister AK Sharma has ordered an investigation into safety protocols around high-voltage transmission lines, while the administration is processing compensation claims under the UP Accident Insurance Scheme. The incident has reignited discussions about enforcing safety regulations during public religious gatherings near electrical infrastructure.
