Couple falls victim to electrocution at the light pole

A husband and wife, who went to switch off the electric light in front of their house as a daily routine, met an unexpected tragic fate. Wariyapola Police state that a couple, parents of four children, died due to electrocution that occurred yesterday (10) dawn in the Karandawetiya area of Aulegama, Wariyapola.

The deceased have been identified as 61-year-old S.M. Devasiri and his 60-year-old wife E.M. Karunawathi, residents of Thennakongama, Karandawetiya area.

According to relatives, yesterday around 6:30 AM, the couple went to the electric pole where the light in front of their house was installed, with the intention of switching it off. Both of them were electrocuted there. Hearing shouts, someone immediately rushed to the scene, rescued the electrocuted couple, and arranged to take them to Nikaweratiya Base Hospital. However, both passed away shortly after being admitted to the hospital.

Residents allege that the foundation of this tragedy was a previous oversight and the result of another natural disaster that occurred the day before. According to them, some time ago, the earth wire of the main power line system running near this house had broken. Subsequently, a team from the Electricity Board who came to the scene had wrapped the broken wire around the electric pole with the light near the deceased couple's house and left it there. Although the wire remained in that state for several days, no one had been harmed by it.

However, the day before yesterday (09) evening, all power lines in the area were broken due to a tree falling. Subsequently, Electricity Board employees arrived, disconnected the area where the tree fell from the main supply, and restored power to other parts of the area.

Residents further allege that the earth wire and the live wire might have become entangled at the spot where the tree fell. They say that the electricity flowing through this connection, then passing through the earth wire wrapped around the pole near the house, might have caused this fatal electrocution.

Wariyapola Police are conducting further investigations into these unfortunate deaths, which left four children with an irreparable loss, having lost both their parents simultaneously right in front of their home.