Youth electrocuted death after coming contact with electric wires

A youth was electrocuted to death after coming in contact with electric wires used for decoration of a railway over bridge (ROB) in the city just hours after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had opened it for the public, police said today.

The deceased was identified as Simachal Panda, a native of Ganjam district and staying at Sunderpada area here. He came in contact with a live wire while removing balloons on the electric poles used for decorating the bridge, police said.

Panda was immediately taken to the Capital Hospital here, but doctors declared him brought dead.

The 653 meter ROB has constructed at a cost of Rs 32.55 crore and was opened to the public by the chief minister yesterday night. Patnaik expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the next of the kin of the deceased. Meanwhile, Opposition Congress and BJP criticised the state government over the incident.

Congress Bhubaneswar unit president Manas Choudhary blamed the Works Department for the mishap. BJP leader Manmohan Samal demanded Rs 25 lakh as ex-gratia for the family of the deceased.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)