Srikakulam: Four farmers , including a couple died, as they got electrocuted at a banana orchard after coming in contact with a banana tree that touched a live wire at Kotha Routhupeta village under Laveru police station limits in Srikakulam district on Sunday. The deceased were identified as A Ramulu (54), his wife A Punyavathi (48), K Venkanna (48) and his cousin R Bangaramma (45).Sub-inspector of Laveru police station, S Chiranjeevi said that Ramulu and Venkanna had gone to the banana orchard at around 09:00 am on Sunday and began harvesting the bananas. While harvesting, one of the banana trees fell on a wire which accidentally touched a live electrical wire and the banana tree got electrified.Farmers Ramulu and Venkanna came in contact with the banana tree, were electrocuted and died on the spot. Around 12.30 pm, Ramulu’s wife Punyavathi and his cousin R Bangaramma went to the banana orchard and were shocked to find Ramulu and Venkanna lying dead in the orchard. Punyavathi and Bangaramma too came in contact with the same banana tree and died of electrocution. Apprehensive that something might have gone wrong, Venkanna’s son had gone to the banana orchard and found the dead bodies and alerted the locals and the police, said Chiranjeevi.Speaking to TOI, DSP Srikakulam, Vasupalli Bheema Rao said that the police are investigating the case in various aspects including alleged negligence of the power distribution discom.The villagers blamed AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited authorities for not conducting regular inspection of supply lines. Revenue department officials visited the spot and promised compensation under Chadranna Bhima and the discom to the families of the deceased. The police have shifted the bodies to RIMS- Srikakulam for post mortem.

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