Mysuru: A farmer, who was working in a sugarcane field, was killed after a live power line snapped and fell on him at Yelegowdanahundi village in the taluk yesterday morning. The deceased farmer is Gavisiddegowda (50), son of late Yelegowda of the village.

Yesterday morning, Gavisiddegowda was working in the sugarcane field of one Mustaj Baij of Rangasamudra, when the overhead live power line snapped and fell on him.

While the two oxen ran for safety, the power line coiled around Gavisiddegowda resulting in him being electrocuted.

Phone calls unanswered at CESC office

As Gavisiddegowda was struggling when the live power line coiled around him, a few farmers who were working in the neighbouring fields immediately called the CESC Sub-Division office at Tumbala to ask them to switch off the power, but none at the CESC office answered their calls. Had the staff at the CESC office received their calls and responded, Gavisiddegowda could have been saved, the eyewitnesses said.

Meanwhile, residents of neighbouring villages, who rushed to the spot, vented                                their ire on the CESC staff for their negligence.

Gavisiddegowda leaves behind two sons and two daughters. He used to work as a labourer for a living. The body was handed over to the family members after post-mortem was conducted. Bannur Police have registered a case in this regard.

Fourth incident in two weeks

Yesterday’s incident is the fourth such tragedy in a span of two weeks. Four persons had lost their lives, when power lines snapped and fell on them in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and Kodagu districts.

Villagers have alleged that despite lodging several complaints about sagging power lines in rural places, no action has been taken to rectify the problems. They have urged the CESC officials to take steps before more innocent lives are lost.