Beltangady: A 38-year-old man died after suffering an electric shock when the pole he was using to harvest arecanuts accidentally came into contact with an overhead power line at Dharmasthala.
The deceased has been identified as Nazir (38), a resident of Ajikuri in Dharmasthala village.
Pole comes into contact with power line
The incident occurred on October 4 near Nazir’s house. He was harvesting arecanuts from a tree using a pole when the pole accidentally touched an electric wire passing nearby.
The contact with the overhead power line resulted in a severe electric shock, leaving Nazir seriously injured.
Shifted to Mangaluru hospital
Following the incident, Nazir was immediately taken to a local hospital for emergency treatment. Considering the severity of his injuries, he was later shifted to a private hospital in Mangaluru for further treatment.
Despite medical efforts, his condition remained critical. He died early Thursday morning, October 8, after failing to respond to treatment.
Police register case
The incident has left the family and local community in shock. Such accidents can occur when long poles or other equipment used for agricultural activities come dangerously close to overhead electrical lines.
A case has been registered at the Dharmasthala police station, and further investigation is under way.
Safety precautions during arecanut harvesting
Arecanut harvesting often involves the use of long poles, particularly when climbing equipment or other methods are not used. Farmers and workers need to exercise extreme caution when conducting such activities near electrical lines.
Even accidental contact between a harvesting pole and a live overhead wire can result in a fatal electric shock. Maintaining a safe distance from power lines and ensuring that harvesting work is carried out only after checking the surrounding area can help prevent such accidents.
Nazir’s death highlights the risks involved in agricultural work carried out close to overhead electricity lines and the importance of taking necessary safety precautions.