A tragic incident marred the aftermath of the 77th Republic Day celebrations as a Class X student lost his life after being electrocuted while lowering the National Flag in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha on Sunday.
The deceased has been identified as Omm Prakash Dwivedy, a student attending classes at a private coaching centre in the Samagola area of Kujang. According to reports, the National Flag had been hoisted on the rooftop of the coaching centre earlier in the day as part of Republic Day celebrations.
Electrocution during flag-lowering protocol
In the evening, before sunset and in adherence to protocol, Omm Prakash began lowering the National Flag. During the process, the galvanised iron (GI) rod to which the flag was fixed reportedly came into contact with an overhead electric wire passing above the building.
The contact caused electric current to pass through the rod, electrocuting the student. He collapsed immediately, prompting teachers and fellow students to rush him to a nearby hospital.
Declared dead at hospital
Doctors at the local hospital declared Omm Prakash brought dead. Following the news, teachers, students, and relatives rushed to the hospital and mourned the untimely loss of the young student.
The incident has left the local community in deep shock, raising serious concerns over safety measures at educational institutions, especially during national events involving flag hoisting.
Family background and shock
Omm Prakash Dwivedy was a native of Teragaon village in Kendrapara district. He had been staying at his maternal uncle’s house in the Samagola area to attend coaching classes in Kujang.
Police have been informed of the incident and are expected to examine whether safety norms were violated, particularly with regard to the proximity of electrical lines to the flagpole.
The tragedy has sparked calls from parents and residents for stricter safety audits of coaching centres and schools to prevent such avoidable loss of young lives.