Spitting gutka turns fatal: 60-year-old man dies of electrocution after coming into contact with 11-kv wire in Madhya Pradesh
The man was living in an under-construction building and reportedly suffered a fatal electric shock.
PTC News Desk: A 60-year-old man died after coming into contact with an 11-kV electricity line while spitting out gutkha from the balcony of his rented accommodation in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha district.
The man was living in an under-construction building and reportedly suffered a fatal electric shock. The incident left his body hanging from the edge of the building, causing panic among local residents.
After receiving information, police reached the spot and took the man to a hospital, where he was declared dead.
Local residents said the high-voltage power line passes dangerously close to the building, creating a serious safety risk. They have urged the electricity department to shift the line or take immediate safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
Residents allege repeated complaints were ignored
Residents expressed anger over the incident, alleging that the electricity department had failed to act on repeated complaints about high-voltage wires running close to residential buildings.
One of the man’s landlords said electricity poles, wires and distribution transformers in the locality were in poor condition. He claimed residents had repeatedly raised concerns about the 11-kV line passing close to homes, but no action had been taken.
Electrical experts said the exact circumstances would need to be established through an investigation. Saliva contains moisture and dissolved salts, which can conduct electricity under certain conditions. However, whether saliva played any role in this incident has not been independently established.
Experts also explained that high-voltage lines can produce an electrical arc, allowing electricity to jump through the air if a person or object comes sufficiently close to a live conductor. Such contact or arcing can cause severe burns, serious injuries or death.
Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. The electricity department’s response to residents’ safety concerns was not immediately available.