Two women, including a five-month pregnant housewife, died in separate electrocution incidents in Hajiganj and Matlab South upazilas of Chandpur on Friday.
The deceased were Sumaiya Akter (22), wife of auto-rickshaw driver Sharif Hossain Munshi, who died after being electrocuted at Kuruli Munshi Bari in Barakul West Union around noon, and schoolgirl Istrat Jahan Ima,15, resident of Naogaon village under Upadhi North Union in Matlab South upazila.
Locals said Sumaiya was charging her husband’s battery-run auto-rickshaw when she suddenly came into contact with live electricity and was critically injured. She fell to the ground after receiving the shock. Hearing her screams, family members rushed her to Hajiganj Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctors declared her dead.
Hajiganj Police Station Sub-Inspector Abu Sayeem said the body was taken into police custody.
The deceased’s husband Sharif Hossain said his wife was five months pregnant.
Md Abdul Jabbar, Officer-in-Charge(OC) of Hajiganj Police Station, said the body was handed over without post-mortem following a written request as there was no complaint from the family.
On the other hand, Naogaon School headteacher Shibir Ahmed said Ima was a class VII student and a meritorious pupil. Her mother Ruma Akter works abroad, while her father works in Chattogram. She used to live at her maternal grandfather’s house for studies.
Police and family sources said that at noon, on the request of her grandfather Tajul Islam, Ima climbed onto the roof using a ladder to clean accumulated leaves. At that time, she came into contact with a live electric wire passing over the roof, which had earlier become electrified due to a damaged wire. Unaware of the danger, she fell to the ground after a severe electric shock and sustained critical injuries.
She was rushed to Matlab Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty doctor Arif Hossain declared her dead.
Hafizur Rahman Manik, Matlab South Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), said an unnatural death case has been filed and the body was sent to Chandpur Sadar Hospital for autopsy.