Three electrocuted while putting up banner of actor Yash
Gadag (PTI): Three died and three others were injured after the metal cutout they were holding came in contact with a livewire in the Gadag district on Sunday night. The poster was being put up for the birthday of actor Yash.
The deceased were identified as Hanumant Harijan (21), Murali Naduvinamani (20) and Naveen Gaji (19) from Suranagi village of Lakshmeshwar taluk.
Manjunath Harijan, Prakash Myageri and Deepak Harijan are under treatment at Lakshmeshwar taluk hospital.
10 youths from Suranagi village had planned to celebrate Sandalwood actor Yash’s birthday which falls on January 8 and they planned to make a big metal cutout of nearly 25 feet. While they were installing the metal cutout, it came in contact with the live wire. Three died on the spot and three others injured and the rest of the youths present strived hard to save the other three.
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Villagers rushed to the spot and helped the youths to shift to the taluk hospital of Lakshmeshwar town on Sunday around 11 pm. Suranagi is 13 km from Lakshmeshwar town and the villagers took a vehicle from the village and shifted to Taluk hospital.
The dead bodies were brought to the Suranagi village on Monday morning and they performed funerals at the village around 10.30 am.
Gadag district minister H K Patil spoke in Bengaluru that he would speak with CM Siddaramaiah about giving compensation to deceased family members. Shirahatti MLA Dr Chandru Lamani visited the Suranagi village and promised the family of the deceased to talk about the compensation.
Lakshmeshwar Taluk Hospital medical officers said that all three are responding to treatment two have almost recovered and one is still recovering.
Suresh Shiraasangi, a villager from Suranagi said, “They used to erect cutouts in different areas earlier but some youths planned to change the cutout area and they came to this area and tried to erect the metal cutout and the incident happened. When the live wire came in contact with the metal, two youths died on the spot and one youth suffered for a few seconds and died. The other youths started screaming after watching this incident and villagers came outside to see what happened. When villagers saw three people screaming in pain, they did not wait for the ambulance but took a vehicle which was available at the time and shifted them to Lakshmeshwar town. Some villagers told them to be careful before putting up the banner but the young people were in a festive mood and they were whistling in happiness. Sadly, it lasted for one minute and they were electrocuted".
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Nearly 700 km of Karnataka rivers polluted; cities, towns depend on contaminated water
Shivamogga: A total of 693.75 of river stretches across Karnataka are polluted, and water from several of these rivers is being supplied to towns and cities, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Monday, replying to an unstarred question by Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra during the winter session in Belagavi, Forest, Environment and Biodiversity Minister Eshwar Khandre said rivers are classified into five categories, P1 to P5, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, with P1 being the most polluted.
He reportedly said untreated domestic wastewater from urban and rural areas is the main reason for river pollution. Arkavati, Lakshana Teertha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Tunga, Cauvery, Kabini, Kagina, Krishna, Shimsha, Bheema and Netravati are the polluted rivers and so far, 112 polluted drainages along these rivers have been identified.
Khandre explained that rivers are classified into five pollution categories P1 to P5. The Arkavati River has been placed in the P1 category, while no rivers fall under P2 and P3. Tungabhadra, Bhadra and Shimsha are categorised under P4, and eight other rivers fall under P5.
Khandre allegedly said domestic wastewater from municipalities, towns and villages along riverbeds is being discharged into at least 17 rivers, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the primary cause of river pollution.
According to the report, the minister said drinking water is being supplied from polluted rivers in districts such as Mandya, Ramanagara, Vijayapura and Shivamogga. In parts of Uttara Kannada, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Bagalkot, local bodies are also drawing water from polluted river sources.
In 2022-23, CPCB identified South Pinakini, Aghanashini, Sharavathi and Gangavali rivers too as polluted. But wrote to CPCB, stating that these rivers are not polluted and sought their removal from the list. An action plan is being prepared for the South Pinakini River, he said.
On remedial measures, Khandre reportedly said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is setting up sewage treatment plants as per the directions of National Green Tribunal.
As per the report, under 12 river rejuvenation plans, the state generates 817.31 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While 41 STPs with a capacity of 614.1 MLD are operational, 203.21 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
Work is underway to establish 19 STPs with a capacity of 248.91 MLD, while 39 more STPs with a combined capacity of 357.92 MLD are in the planning stage. Progress is being monitored and reported regularly to the NGT and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The minister reportedly said the state government gave its approval for underground drainage works worth Rs 535.56 crore in 2021 for 24 cities/towns besides Rs 523.80 crore for nine UGD projects.
