Live wire hanging near school kills two kids

CHENNAI: Two eight-year-old boys playing in front of their school in Guduvanchery were electrocuted on Friday morning, plunging the town into grief.
Around 8.30am, Class 3 students M Janardhanan and Abhishek Ravi accidentally touched a live wire that was dangling near the Government Middle School and swooned. The wire had snapped during the previous night’s heavy downpour and was dangling.The two good friends were rushed to the Chengalpet Government Medical College Hospital, about 20km from the accident spot, where they were declared brought dead.
As news of the deaths spread, residents of the town were angry. A number of shops downed their shutters and many residents demanded action against the electricity board officials responsible for the live wire dangling dangerously. The local TNEB office was deserted after rumours spread that a mob would attack officials holding them responsible for the deaths.
A TNEB official said a probe found the wire the two students touched was part of an illegal connection. Action would be taken against those responsible, he said.
Abhishek Ravi’s father, a mason, blamed the TNEB for the death of the boys. “It is the power board’s fault that the live wire was dangling,” he said.
R Kumar, councillor of the area, said, “This town is neglected by all and you can see for yourself the dangerous wires and poor upkeep by the electricity board. The boys lost their lives for no fault of theirs.”
P Sasikala, mother of a classmate of the boys, said, “This is ridiculous. How would boys know they were in danger while passing by such cables?”
The school declared a holiday to enable students and staff to pay their last respects to the deceased boys.
At the house of Janardhanan, the compound was packed with mourners. The boy’s elder sister Ashwini was inconsolable. M Sundaram, a relative, said, “He was a bright boy. It is sad that the two dear friends had to go this way.”