📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / JDP90 (Joydeep)
Religion
Three killed as Durga idol’s iron frame contacts high‑tension wire in Gorakhpur
✍️ India Today
🗓 22 Oct 2026, 03:04 AM
👁 22
Three people died when the iron frame of a Durga idol struck a high‑tension power line in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Gorakhpur authorities confirmed that three individuals lost their lives after the iron framework of a Durga idol came into contact with a high‑tension electricity line. The incident occurred during the set‑up of the idol for the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations.
Local police and the state electricity board arrived at the scene shortly after the accident was reported. Emergency services were dispatched, but the victims could not be revived.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the idol’s frame, which is typically erected on a temporary structure, inadvertently touched the live wire, causing a fatal electrocution. Officials have warned residents and organizers to maintain a safe distance from power lines during festival preparations.
The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety checks and clearer guidelines for erecting large religious installations near utility infrastructure. The police have opened a case to determine any negligence and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Local police and the state electricity board arrived at the scene shortly after the accident was reported. Emergency services were dispatched, but the victims could not be revived.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the idol’s frame, which is typically erected on a temporary structure, inadvertently touched the live wire, causing a fatal electrocution. Officials have warned residents and organizers to maintain a safe distance from power lines during festival preparations.
The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety checks and clearer guidelines for erecting large religious installations near utility infrastructure. The police have opened a case to determine any negligence and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.