Kolkata and a pocket on its southern outskirts have been struck by back-to-back electrocution tragedies, highlighting the dangers posed by waterlogging and unsafe electrical setups just days before Durga Puja celebrations.
On Saturday morning, 62-year-old Sumanti Devi of Khudiram Palli in Behala, South Kolkata, lost her life while trying to lift the shutter of a shop in ankle-deep water. Eyewitnesses said the metal shutter had come into contact with live electricity, electrocuting her instantly. Two locals who rushed to her aid sustained injuries but survived.
The incident triggered outrage in the locality, where residents blamed the poor drainage system for turning streets into “death traps” after every spell of rain. Locals alleged despite repeated complaints, civic authorities have failed to take action. With the fresh tragedy, the state capital has already recorded 10 electrocution deaths due to waterlogging since Mahalaya,” said a local resident.
Meanwhile, in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, another tragedy unfolded late on Friday night inside a puja pandal. Biswajit Saha, an electrician by profession and one of the organisers of the Subhashgram Kodalia Shanti Sangh Durga Puja, was electrocuted while carrying out electrical work.
“According to eyewitnesses, he came into contact with a stand fan, collapsed immediately and was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” said an officer of Sonarpur police station.
Both incidents have amplified fears over safety during the upcoming festivities. With Durga Puja just around the corner, residents are urging the administration and civic bodies to act swiftly to prevent further tragedies.
Also read: When Netaji held Durga Puja behind Presidency jail in Kolkata
Follow us
