Three people of a family, including two children, were electrocuted in Bakerganj upazila of Barishal on Saturday.
The deceased were 鈥� Sonia Begum, 31, wife of Riaz Molla, their five-year-old son Salman Molla and 12-year-old daughter Rezeena Akter, of Dhalmara village of Neamoti union in the upazila.
Local people said that an electric wire was torn and lying in a ditch, next to the house of Sonia Begum. The two children were plucking lemons there at about 12:15pm. At one stage, as a lemon fell into the ditch, Salman went down to fetch the lemon and was electrocuted.
Hearing scream, his mother came to rescue Salman. But she was also electrocuted after touching her son. At that time, as Rezeena embraced her mother, she was also electrocuted, they added.
Locals alleged that on information Rural Electrification Board officials fled the area instead of visiting to the spot. Their immediate action could save the trio.
Bakerganj police station officer-in-charge Afzal Hossain said that the bodies had been recovered and legal action would be taken later.
Bakerganj Upazila nirbahi officer Mohammad Saifur Rahman said that strict action must be taken if any negligence of REB officials found.
Subas Chandra Das, assistant general manager of Palli Bidyut Samity-1 of Bakerganj zonal office, said that two separate probe bodies had been formed to investigate the incident and they were directed to submit report by Sunday.
