An 18-year-old student died after coming into contact with a live wire while removing decorative lights near a Ganesha pandal at Beerandahalli village in Karnataka’s Bangarapet taluk on Wednesday morning, prompting a police investigation into the electrical connections and safety arrangements at the site.
The deceased, identified as Mithun, was a II PU student at a private college in Kolar and a resident of Beerandahalli. According to locals, he was removing decorative lighting installed around the idol ahead of the Ganesha immersion when he accidentally touched a live wire and collapsed.
Villagers provided first aid and took Mithun to a hospital in a car, but doctors declared him brought dead. Bangarapet police inspector Ravikumar said the incident occurred at around 8.30am.
The idol had reportedly been donated to Mithun and his family by some individuals and was installed near the village temple. Police said the family had chosen to celebrate separately from the common village pandal and had drawn electricity from the temple for the decorative lighting around the idol.
A woman who witnessed the incident reportedly told police that a water pipe and other materials were lying close to the electrical wires and may have contributed to the tragedy. The account is part of the police investigation and has not, by itself, established the precise cause of the electrocution.
The incident has brought attention to the safety risks associated with temporary electrical installations at public celebration sites, where decorative lights, power connections and other materials may be arranged close to areas used by residents. The police inquiry is examining the status of the power connection and whether adequate safety measures had been followed.
Deputy superintendent of police Lakshmaiah visited the spot and inspected the electrical connections and decorative lighting arrangements. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances that led to Mithun’s death.
