A woman and a seven-year-old child lost their lives in a tragic accident in Madhya Pradesh when a tractor-trolley carrying a Banjara family came into contact with a high-tension electricity line in the Kolaras area of Shivpuri district. The incident occurred as the family was traveling to collect fodder, and the vehicle’s iron pipes struck the overhead wires, causing a powerful electric surge that electrocuted the occupants.
The woman, Leela Bai Banjara (30), caught fire and died on the spot as her saree ignited due to the electric current. Her son, Anil, also suffered severe burns and succumbed to his injuries. The tractor driver, Vinod Banjara (27), and another passenger, Kesar Bai, were thrown off the vehicle by the shock and are currently in critical condition receiving treatment at a hospital.
The victims, hailing from a Banjara family in Rajasthan’s Baran district, had stopped near a toll plaza in Kolaras to purchase fodder from local fields for their livelihood. Eyewitnesses from another tractor-trolley immediately rushed the injured to the hospital, where the child was pronounced dead on arrival. Authorities highlighted that the low-hanging wires, partially obscured by trees, and the protruding iron pipes on the trolley were the primary factors leading to the tragic accident.
SDOP Kolaras Amarnath Verma expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing its preventable nature. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to determine if safety clearances for the power lines were maintained. Verma urged farmers and vehicle owners to exercise caution when operating tall equipment near power lines to avoid such accidents.
