Bengaluru, Mar 18 (PTI): Two women died allegedly after an electric pole fell on them during an ongoing road repair work here, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased were identified as Sumati and Soni Kumari, residents of the Suddaguntepalya area, they said.
According to Soni's family members, she was four months pregnant.
However, police said, it can be ascertained only through the autopsy report which is awaited.
The incident occurred on Monday evening when the women were returning home after picking their children up from tuition classes.
According to the police, repair work was underway at Suddaguntepalya main road when a JCB driver accidentally hit an electric pole while reversing the vehicle. The pole collapsed on the women and they died before reaching the hospital.
However, their children did not sustain any major injuries.
A case of causing death due to negligence has been registered against the JCB driver and the road contractor at the Baiyyappanahalli police station.
"The JCB driver was arrested in connection with the incident and further investigation is underway," an officer added.
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Chikkamagaluru: Around 150 families from the Shillekytha fishing community (Scheduled Caste) in Menasuru Ravuru Camp, located near the backwaters of the Bhadra River in NR Pura Taluk, have reportedly been living without a burial ground for nearly two decades.
As a result, they are forced to bury their dead in an islet located a few kilometers away, often using traditional coracles to transport the bodies for the last rites, as reported by The New Indian Express on Friday.
One community member shared the struggles they face, particularly during the monsoon season. “We find water as we start digging a pit. We cover the pit with leaves to prevent water from seeping in before burying the body there,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
During summer months, when the Bhadra backwaters recede, the community members resort to burying bodies along the shore. However, even these temporary solutions come with their own challenges. In some cases, families have had to reuse burial spots where previous bodies were laid to rest.
Repeated appeals to local authorities, including the gram panchayat, taluk administration, local MLA, and other elected representatives, for a burial ground, housing, electricity, and other basic amenities have reportedly gone unanswered.
Meanwhile, a local leader stated that the members of the Shillekytha fishing community are nomads, frequently moving from place to place. He added that this nomadic lifestyle is the reason why the community has been deprived of basic amenities, including access to a burial ground and essential services.