Mahashivratri: 14 children suffer electric shock; 2 critical
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New Delhi: In an unfortunate incident during a Mahashivaratri procession in Rajasthan's Kota on Friday, 14 children suffered severe electric shock, and the condition of two is critical, Rajasthan Health Ministry informed.
The victims were rushed to the MBS hospital in Kota. The children, who were aged 10 to 16, participated in the 'Shiv Barat'.
Health Minister Heeralal Nagar said that the incident was saddening. There are two children in critical condition, and one of them is suffering 100 per cent burns. The ministry formed a special team to provide every treatment possible, and orders have been issued to check whether any negligence was involved which led to the incident, the minister said.
According to a PTI report, an overhead high-tension power line in the Sakatoura area under the Kunhari police station limits caused the electric shock. The children carried flags with them, which might have come in contact with the electric lines. Among the two critical ones, one suffered 100 per cent burns while the other 50 per cent suffered burns. The rest of the injured suffered less than 50 per cent burns.
News Agency Asian News International shared a video on X, which featured people carrying the injured to a hospital.
According to reports, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla reached the hospital to take stock of the situation.
Senior officials such as IG Ravi Dutt Gaur, District Collector Ravindra Goswami and SP Amrit Duhan also reached the spot and an investigation has been initiated.