Tragedy strikes Muharram procession in northern India: tazia collides with high tension line, 13 injured
by Aditi VermaA tragic accident occurred during a Muharram procession in Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, when a 50-foot Tazia collided with a high-tension power line, resulting in injuries to 13 participants.
The incident took place at Aminnagar in the Mohammadi area of Lakhimpur Kheri district on July 18.
Visuals showed during Muharram, a group of people were carrying a long Tazia through a procession. As they moved forward, the tall Tazia touched a high-tension wire. Suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and the Tazia burst into flames.
The procession, which featured a 50-foot Tazia, encountered disaster when the Tazia came into contact with a high-tension power line. The collision caused the Tazia to catch fire, severely burning 13 participants carrying it.
Eyewitnesses reported that the large Tazia unexpectedly hit the power line, leading to an outbreak of fire and subsequent panic. Local residents attempted to provide immediate aid by covering the injured in the soil to mitigate the burns. Police and emergency services swiftly transported the injured to the Mohammadi Community Health Center (CSC). Five of the severely injured individuals were later referred to the Shahjahanpur District Hospital for further treatment.
The incident has sparked significant outrage among the participants and local residents. They accused the electricity department of negligence, alleging that despite prior notification of the procession and fair, the power line was neither removed nor de-energized, leading to the tragic event. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mohammadi, Avneesh Kumar, and Circle Officer (CO) Arun Kumar Singh arrived at the scene, though no senior district officials had yet reached the site.
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