Moodbidri: A mother and her son died of electrocution at Varnabettu within the limits of Paladka gram panchayat in Moodbidri taluk. The tragic incident reportedly occurred when the son was hanging clothes out to dry and came into contact with an electrified clothesline.
The deceased have been identified as Mercy Mascarenhas, 45, and her son Shaun Mascarenhas, 18, a student of Holy Rosary in Moodbidri.
According to preliminary reports, Shaun was hanging clothes on a wire when it is suspected that the wire came into contact with a high-tension electricity line. The current is believed to have passed through the clothesline, resulting in the fatal electrocution.
Mother dies while trying to rescue son
Reports indicate that Mercy attempted to rescue her son after he came into contact with the electrified wire. However, electricity reportedly passed through her as well, causing both mother and son to die on the spot.
The incident has left the family and the local community in shock. The circumstances described suggest that the mother may have tried to save Shaun without realising that the wire had become electrified.
Incident comes to light on Thursday morning
The incident came to light on Thursday morning when a labourer arrived at the location for plantation work. The discovery brought the tragedy to the attention of others in the area.
Varnabettu is located within the jurisdiction of Paladka gram panchayat. The deaths have raised concerns about the potential danger posed when clotheslines or other wires come into contact with high-tension electricity lines.
The suspected sequence of events remains subject to confirmation by the authorities.
Suspected contact with high-tension power line
According to the initial information, investigators suspect that the clothesline wire came into contact with a high-tension power line, allowing electricity to pass through it. Further examination would be needed to establish the precise cause and circumstances of the electrocution.
The incident highlights the serious risks associated with exposed or electrified wires near residential properties. A wire that appears harmless can become deadly if it comes into contact with a live power line.
The deaths of Mercy and Shaun have brought renewed attention to the importance of electrical safety around homes, particularly where clotheslines, metal wires and overhead power lines are located close to one another.
Tragic loss for the family
The deaths of the mother and son have cast a pall of grief over the locality. Mercy reportedly lost her life while attempting to save Shaun, making the incident particularly distressing for the family and community.
The exact circumstances surrounding the incident, including how the suspected contact between the clothesline and the high-tension line occurred, remain to be established.