Cleaner charred to death

Eluru: A 21-year-old cleaner was charred to death when the truck in which he was travelling caught fire after touching the high-tension line at Pandikodu village in Nidamarru mandal in West Godavari district on Tuesday. According to fire and local people, a truck was engaged in digging fish pond in Nidamarru mandal and the lorry driver loaded the earth mover in the truck at Gudiwada.

The truck cleaner Ajay (21) of Gangarega Valasa village in Vizianagaram district and machine operator boarded the truck. The cleaner Ajay on way started pushing the power cables that were obstructing the movement of the truck. When the truck reached Pandikodu village in Nidamarru mandal, the cleaner pushed the HT power cable with a stick to avoid contact with the truck. However, he was electrocuted and fell on the backside of the truck, while the truck also caught fire. The lorry driver Brahmam and machine operator jumped from the truck and ran away.

Local people informed police and fire personnel about the incident. Before the fire and police personnel could the spot, truck and the cleaner turned into ashes. The local people told the police that the HT lines are dangling since few days, but the electricity officials did not respond though they complained to them in this regard. Nidamarru police registered a case and took up investigation.