Two kanwariyas were electrocuted and 32 people sustained burn injuries when the vehicle of a Kanwar yatra touched a live high tension wire in Beechgawa village at Alwar district of Rajasthan on Wednesday.
A police spokesman said the pilgrims were returning home to Beechgaon under Laxmangarh tehsil in a procession with Kanwads of sacred GangaJal which they collected from the Ganga in Haridwar.
The Kanwadiyas and villagers were performing a ritual of welcoming (parikrama) the Kawad rath in the village when the vehicle came in contact with the live wire.
Two Kanvadiyas Suresh Prajapat (35) and Gopal Prajapat (22) died on the spot. 32 persons with burn injuries were taken to nearby Garhi Sawairam Hospital from where 8 injured were referred to Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital, Alwar and 3 to 4 were admitted to the Government Hospital Laxmangarh.
Annoyed with alleged negligence of the power supply corporation personnel, the locals have sat on dharna on the spot and blocked traffic on the road.
District administration and Power Corporation officials rushed to the spot to pacify the mob. Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma also rushed to the Beechgawa on directives from Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.
In swift action the authorities have placed under suspension Junior Engineer Dinesh and Technical Assistant Sonu.
The government has also announced compensation of Rs 10 lakh each to next of kin of the deceased. Of this amount Rs 5 lakh would be paid by the state government and Rs 5 lakh by the Power Corporation.
Chief Minister Sharma has condoled the deaths.