Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010351870300.htm

Other States - Orissa

Tragedy strikes picnickers, woman dies

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: One woman was electrocuted and 30 others suffered serious burns when the minibus in which they were travelling came in contact with 11 KV power cable on Friday near Bapangi temple, some 18 km from Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district.

A group of persons from Koli Street of Belguntha of Ganjam district decided to have a picnic near a reservoir of the Daha irrigation project. They hired a minibus for the journey.

They also put a bicycle on the roof of the bus along with some utensils and goods needed for the outing.

The bicycle proved to be near fatal as its handle touched the high-voltage 11 KV power cable near the Bapangi temple. While men, including the driver, managed to jump out, women and children were stranded. Even the front tyres of the minibus started to burn.

Some of the stranded passengers suffered serious burns. Luckily, power supply snapped after sometime. Thirty persons were injured in the incident. They were rushed to the Bhanjanagar hospital. A 60-year-old woman, who was seriously injured, breathed her last at the hospital. Eight seriously injured persons were shifted from Bhanjanagar to MKCG Medical College Hospital in the city. They included two children and six women.

The Ganjam district administration said it would bear the cost of treatment of the injured persons.