Electrocution at Thrissur poultry farm claims lives of migrant couple
A couple from Assam died after being electrocuted at a poultry farm in Thrissur on Sunday, according to police. The couple, who were employed at a chicken farm in Thalassery in Desamangalam panchayat, have been identified with some discrepancies in reports.
Deccan Chronicle reports the deceased as Shafeeq (28) and his wife Ruksana (23), while Malayala Manorama identifies them as Shafikul (26) and his wife Ruksana (22). All reports describe the couple as migrant labourers from Assam.
The couple's two children, a girl and a boy, were also at the farm at the time but escaped unhurt, according to multiple reports.
Circumstances of the incident
The exact circumstances leading to the electrocution are still being clarified, with different accounts emerging from the two reports.
The Deccan Chronicle reported that the couple was electrocuted after coming into contact with an electric line while arriving at the farm for work. The newspaper cited other employees at the farm who noticed the incident and disconnected the power supply, adding that the couple died before they could be taken to hospital.
Malayala Manorama, citing police and Desamangalam panchayat president Sandhya, gave a more detailed account. According to their report, the incident occurred when the couple went to feed chickens at the farm owned by Ashraf. Sandhya said the couple had arrived at the farm about a month ago with their two children and lived in a shed near the farm, surrounded by a rubber estate.
She said the couple tripped and fell on electric fencing installed around the property to keep wild boars away. When they were not seen for some time, the other family went looking and found them around 9 am. She added that they suspect one fell first and the other tried to rescue, resulting in both being electrocuted.
The electric fence
The farm has around 1,000 chickens, and an electric fence had been installed around the premises to prevent animals from entering, according to police, as reported by Deccan Chronicle. The same report described the fence as intended for that purpose, but did not specify the type of animals. The Malayala Manorama report states the fencing was to keep wild boars, citing the panchayat president.
Investigation and aftermath
An investigation has been announced to determine whether the electric line had been installed illegally, as reported by Deccan Chronicle. The bodies were shifted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital, and the Malayala Manorama reported that postmortem examinations will be conducted before the bodies are handed over to relatives.
The investigation is underway, and Cheruthuruthy police are handling the case, according to a report by Malayala Manorama.