A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the deaths of five people from electrocution during Rath Yatra (a Hindu religious festival) in Seujgari Amtai intersection of Bogura town.
Bogura deputy commissioner Saiful Islam said the committee led by additional deputy commissioner Imrul Kayes has been asked to submit a report within 10 working days.
The committee included representatives from police, power division, fire service and civil defence and civil surgeon, the DC said.
Saiful Islam said that they provided each family of the deceased with Tk 25,000 for the cremation of the deceased and took measures for the necessary treatment of the injured.
The government will cover all medical expenses for the victims injured during the Bogura Rath Yatra tragedy, health minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen said.
Two critically injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the burn unit of the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. They are not out of danger yet, the minister said during a press briefing following his visit to the burn unit.
鈥業 have spoken with the victims鈥� families and assured them that we are doing everything possible. The government will bear all medical expenses for the injured,鈥� he reiterated.
The iron rod on the top of Rath (chariot) might have touched 11,000 volt electric wire when the procession was moving towards Shib temple in Latifpur area, said executive engineer of selling and distribution department-1 of Northern Electricity Supply Company Abdul Mannaf.
Arup Ratan Sheel, a local journalist who participated in the Rath Yatra, said, 鈥楾hose who were involved in dragging the chariot by holding a rope, were alerted by the president of Iskcon committee, Bogura, Kharjita Krishna Das about the high voltage electric wire over the road through the loudspeaker. The sounds of the loudspeaker remained unheard due to the huge crowd there.鈥�
Asking about why the power cables were kept necked over the road, Mannaf said that the electric cables of 11000 voltage were kept open across the country and it鈥檚 not only in Bogura.
Earlier on Sunday afternoon, five people died and 43 others sustained injuries during the Rath Yatra in the area.
The Rath Yatra procession was brought out from Iskcon Temple at about 5:00pm and when they reached Seujgari Amtala intersection, a fire broke out on the top of the Rath as it came in contact with a high-voltage electric wire.
