Telangana: Snapped power line burns farmer alive as family watches helplessly in Kothagudem

A farmer was burnt alive in Vennelabailu village when his bike touched low-hanging electric wires and caught fire. Locals blame the power department’s negligence and demand immediate rectification of dangerous power lines passing through fields

Kothagudem: A young farmer was burnt alive at Vennelabailu village in Shambhunigudem gram panchayat of Gundala mandal on Tuesday, as his family watched in horror, unable to help.

The victim, Parsika Raju (30), was on his way to his agricultural field on a motorbike when he failed to notice a snapped electricity distribution line lying across the ground. As the bike came in contact with the live wire, he was electrocuted and fell to the ground. The motorbike then caught fire, and Raju was engulfed in flames at the spot where he had collapsed.

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Nearby farmers who witnessed the incident informed Raju’s family, who rushed to the spot but could only watch him die, unable to intervene for fear of electrocution.

Local farmers held the Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (NPDCL) responsible, alleging that the tragedy was a result of the negligence of officials and field staff. They said an insulator on the electric pole had broken, causing the wire to snap, but the power staff failed to take timely action despite being alerted.

The farmers demanded immediate action by the NPDCL to fix dangerously low-hanging distribution lines passing through agricultural lands and ensure proper ground clearance to prevent further accidents.