The death toll after the railing of a bridge got electrified in Uttarakhand has risen to 16, including a policeman and three Home Guards. The state’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the spot and ordered a magisterial inquiry.
The accident occurred last night at a power transformer at a Namami Gange project site on the banks of the Alaknanda river in Chamoli district, an official said today.
Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer NK Joshi said the police had gone to the spot to prepare a report on the electrocution of a person working on the project site late yesterday.
At that time, a surge of electricity at the same spot hit the police personnel and the curious onlookers, leading to the deaths and injuries.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan told PTI that an investigation is underway. The injured have been admitted to the district hospital while some are being taken by helicopter to AIIMS-Rishikesh.
The bridge, which is part of a sewage treatment plant under the Namami Gange project, spans the Alaknanda river near Pipalkoti village in Chamoli district.
