Two Children Electrocuted at Ramanathapuram Water Plant, Panchayat Secretary Suspended

Two siblings were electrocuted while playing near a defunct potable water purification plant in Achangulam in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, police said.

The victims, Niraimathi, 9, and her brother Balapranav, 6, came into contact with a metal structure at the facility on Wednesday. Police suspect that power leakage from a severed cable inside the structure caused the metal enclosure to become electrically charged.

The water purification unit had remained non-operational for more than six years, but its electricity connection had not been disconnected, police said.

Following the deaths, Kamuthi Block Development Officer Chandrasekaran suspended Panchayat Secretary K Rasu for alleged negligence in maintaining the facility.

The incident led to protests by the children’s parents and relatives in Kamuthi. The protesters blocked a road and demanded strict accountability and legal action against electricity board officials for failing to disconnect the power supply to the unused facility.

Abiramam police intervened and assured the demonstrators that appropriate cases would be registered, following which the road blockade was withdrawn.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the electrocution, including the suspected power leakage from the severed cable. The report did not identify any electricity board official as having been formally booked or arrested following the incident.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay condoled the deaths and announced a solatium of Rs 6 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund. The assistance comprises Rs 3 lakh for the family of each child.

The deaths occurred at a facility that had ceased operations years earlier but continued to have an active electricity connection. The victims’ relatives sought action against officials responsible for the power supply and maintenance of the site.

Police said the children were playing near the facility when they came into contact with the charged metal structure. Details about the electrical cable and how the structure became energised were not immediately available.

The suspension of the panchayat secretary was the administrative action reported following the deaths, while police proceedings and protesters’ demands continued.