A tragic accident claimed the life of a 19-year-old student in Karnataka’s Tumakuru district after he was electrocuted while plucking tender coconuts on his family’s agricultural land at Kunaghatta village in Gubbi taluk on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as K Preetam, who had recently completed his Pre-University education at a college in Tumakuru.
Accident occurred during routine farm work
According to the police, Preetam was helping with work on the family’s farm when the incident took place. To pluck tender coconuts, he had attached a sickle to a long fibre stick and was attempting to reach the coconuts on the tree.
His father, Shivaramaiah, a farmer, stated in his complaint that the fibre stick unexpectedly shook while Preetam was lifting it.
Fibre stick came into contact with live wire
The movement caused the stick to touch a live overhead electric wire passing near the agricultural land. The contact resulted in a powerful electric shock, leaving Preetam critically injured.
Despite efforts to save him, the young student succumbed to the injuries sustained in the accident.
Family and village in shock
The sudden death has left the family devastated and cast a pall of gloom over the village. Residents expressed grief over the loss of a young life in what was meant to be a routine farming activity.
Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.