Eight workers electrocuted during road construction in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu
Five people sustained injuries after a mixing machine hit a high-tension power line in Chhapoli village on Monday.
Eight workers died and five others were injured after a machine hit an overhead high-tension power line during roadwork in Chhapoli village, Rajasthan, on Monday, according to reports by Hindustan Times, ThePrint and The Tribune.
The accident occurred in the Udaipurwati area of Jhunjhunu district while a narrow road connecting Chhapoli to Kadamkund was being built with public participation. Udaipurwati station house officer Rampal said a machine used for mixing sand and gravel touched the power line, causing electricity to pass through the equipment's hydraulic jack.
The deceased were identified as Hariram Gurjar, 30, Mangalchand Gurjar, 22, Kaluram Gurjar, 29, and Pawan Gurjar, 23, from Haleda Mandawara, and Vishnu Saini, 38, Surendra alias Suresh Saini, 30, Mukesh Saini, 27, and Fatehchand Saini, 32, from Chhapoli.
Villagers protested the incident, alleging that the electricity department and administration ignored safety risks. They claimed power lines were touching trees and that no staff were present at the grid substation when they requested a power shutdown.
Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma ordered a high-level inquiry and directed officials to provide medical treatment to the injured and assistance to the families. Energy Minister Heeralal Nagar said technical officials have been sent to investigate if any departmental or technical lapses occurred.
Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot called for an investigation to establish responsibility, while former minister Rajendra Gudha urged the administration to provide government jobs to the kin of the deceased.