A casual evening stroll turned deadly for two women in their 30s after an electric pole collapsed on them near Baiyappanahalli, East Bengaluru, on Monday.
The mishap occurred when an earthmover, engaged in roadwork, accidentally dislodged the pole with its bucket arm. The operator, 33-year-old Rajkumar, was reversing the machine when the accident took place. He has been arrested for causing death by negligence.
Victims Soni Kumari and Sumathi were walking along 5th Cross, Suddaguntepalya, around 6:30 pm when the pole fell. Police reported that the impact caused multiple fractures and severe head injuries, leading to fatal blood loss. While some speculated that Rajkumar was wearing earphones while operating the machine, investigators found no evidence supporting this claim. CCTV footage is being examined as part of the probe.
Following the incident, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar assured that safety measures at civic work sites would be reinforced to prevent such tragedies.
Data reveals that Bengaluru recorded 707 cases of death by negligence between 2020 and October 2024, but only two resulted in convictions. A senior officer stated that at least 20% of these cases stem from civic body lapses, with officials often avoiding consequences.
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