A hotel employee in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhatarpur district died on Thursday after coming into contact with a high-tension power line while attempting to scare away monkeys from the premises. The entire sequence of the fatal accident was captured by the establishment's CCTV cameras.
Electrocution Incident During Maintenance Work
The victim, identified as Pradeep Raikwar, was employed as a room boy at a local hotel. According to reports, Raikwar was using a long iron pipe to drive away a group of monkeys that had gathered on the upper floor of the building.
During the process, the metal pipe accidentally touched a 33KV overhead high-voltage electricity line passing near the hotel structure. The contact resulted in an immediate and massive electrical discharge, causing Raikwar to collapse on the spot.
Visual Evidence and Emergency Response
The CCTV footage from the hotel premises shows the victim holding the pipe when the arc occurred. The intensity of the 33KV line left the employee with no time to retreat. Other staff members rushed to the scene after hearing the sound of the discharge, but the victim had already sustained fatal injuries.
Local police were informed of the accident shortly after. Authorities have taken the body into custody for a post-mortem examination and have initiated a primary investigation into the safety protocols maintained at the site.
Rising Concerns Over High-Tension Lines
This incident highlights the recurring safety risks posed by high-tension wires passing in close proximity to commercial and residential buildings. Chhatarpur administration officials are expected to review whether the building construction adhered to the mandatory distance requirements from the 33KV grid.
The police have registered a case and are currently recording statements from the hotel management and witnesses who were present during the time of the accident.