1 minor killed, 3 critical after HT line accident

BAREILLY: A marriage ceremony in Kuiya Sahapura village turned sour on Tuesday night after a 12-year-old boy carrying decorative lights for the groom’s chariot was charred to death as the lights shot-circuited and caught fire. Eleven other minors were seriously injured of which three are critical.
The incident occurred because the top of the buggy came in contact with a high tension line.Since the decorative lights being carried by the minor boys were connected to the chariot, the high-voltage current from the line passed through the wiring and caused the lights to catch fire.
The kids were rushed to the community health centre in Fareedpur where they were given medical care.
According to reports, the incident happened so fast that the young kids had no time to react. The groom and his friends jumped from the buggy immediately after they felt a jolt when the wire came in contact with their cart and even the baratis ran away to a safe distance. However, the minor kids were caught unprepared.
According to sources, the people were so engrossed in the celebrations that they did not notice when the high tension wire came in contact with the top of the horse-cart.
Talking to TOI, Naseer, an eye witness and the elder brother of one of the seriously injured kids, said, “Each child carrying decorative lights sustained burn injuries while three including my brother are still critical and undergoing treatment at the district hospital.” He said that the incident occurred because the buggy was heavier than it should have been. “Soon after decorative lights came in contact with high tension line, short circuit occurred after which electric wires caught fire due to which children got injured at the spot,” Naseer said.
He alleged that Ikrar alias Lalla owner of Lalla Light had employed several minors who used to carry decorative lights during marriage functions for a mere sum of Rs 60-70 per head. “My younger brother was one of them who worked overnight to meet financial crisis of the family,” he added.
Soon after the incident, the injured kids were rushed to the CHC while the three critical ones were referred to the district hospital in Bareilly.
Confirming reports of the incident, station officer Fareedpur police station, Jitendra Kumar, said, “It was an accident which claimed the life of a minor while several others sustained burn injuries. So far, no one has lodged any complaint with us against the light owner and Band wala and if we do receive any complaint against them then we will take action against them for employing minors.”