Tripura: 7 Dead, 16 Injured As ‘Rath’ Comes In Contact With High-Tension Wire In Unakoti

Seven people died and 16 others were injured after a chariot came into contact with a high-tension wire in Unakoti district in Tripura on Wednesday.

The incident happened around 4.30 pm in the Kumarghat area during the 'Ulta Rath Yatra' festival of Lord Jagannath, the police said. Parts of the Rath immediately caught fire and people fell on the road with their bodies on flame, police said.

Among the deceased, there were two children and three women, police said. The injured persons were rushed to Kailashahar and Kumarghat hospitals in the district, and later seven of them were sent to the GB Pant Hospital in Agartala as their conditions were critical, they said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolence over the incident and said, "The mishap during the Ulta Rath Yatra at Kumarghat is saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected."

During this festival, the sibling deities Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhdara and Lord Jagannath return to their abode, a week after Rath Yatra.

Thousands of people were pulling the rath, made of iron when it came in contact with a 133 kv overhead cable, police said.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has expressed his grief over the accident. "In a tragic incident, several devotees have lost their lives & some other people sustained injuries due to electrocution during Ulta Rath Yatra at Kumarghat today. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy. In this difficult time, the State Government stands by the side of the affected families," he said.

Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath has sought a report immediately over the incident from the Tripura State Electricity Corporation.

The Chief Minister visited the accident spot and also met the victims at the hospital.

"Never before has such an incident happened in the history of Tripura. I went to the accident spot and two hospitals. The seriously injured people have been referred to JB Hospital. A total of 7 people died and 16 were injured," the Tripura CM said.