HYDERABAD: Three people were electrocuted on Saturday when a temple chariot they were shifting came in contact with overhead electric cables at Kethepally village in Nalgonda district.
Police said R Yadaiah, 35, P Mohanaiah, 40, and D Anajaneyulu, 35, died on the spot while another person, R Venkataiah, suffered burns. The accident comes exactly a month after a similar incident was reported from Tamil Nadu.
On Aptil 27, 11 people were electrocuted after a temple chariot in Thanjavur district came in contact with an overhead electric wire during a procession. The victims included three children.
Chariot moved to safer place
In the accident at Nalgonda, the iron chariot, belonging to the local Sitharama temple, had been lying in the open for over a month.
It had been used for Rathosthavam celebrations during Sriramanavami in April, after which it was abandoned under a neem tree. The temple priest feared it may get damaged in the monsoon rains.
He then tagged along village elders and convinced some villagers to move the chariot to a safer place, so that it does not rust. “Some people tried to push the chariot with their bare hands while others were pulling it with a rope.
But the chariot’s tip touched overhead cables, resulting in three people being electrocuted,” a cop said. A case was registered.
