Schoolboy dies of electrocution while picking mangoes in Khagrachhari

On his way home from play in the evening, Mitsu Tripura climbed a mango tree on the side of the road with a classmate

A schoolboy has died after being electrocuted while picking mangoes in Dighinala, Khagrachhari.

His classmate was also injured in the incident.

The accident occurred around 7pm on Tuesday in the Noy Mile area of the Khagrachhari-Dighinala road, said Tapu Tripura, headmaster of Noy Mile Junior School.

The deceased, Mitshu Tripura, 12, was a sixth-grade student of Nine Mile Junior School. His injured classmate has been identified as Binoy Tripura.

Headmaster Tapu said that on Tuesday afternoon, Mitshu went out to play with his friends. In the evening, on his way home afterwards, he climbed a mango tree on the side of the road with his classmate Binoy to pluck mangoes.

“At one point, they were electrocuted when they inadvertently touched an electric wire beside a branch of the tree.”

As Mitshu was seriously injured, local people quickly rescued him and took him to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital. There, doctors declared him dead. The injured Binoy was given first aid.

Parents and local residents have demanded the immediate pruning of trees next to risky power lines and strengthening of safety measures.