In a tragic incident in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur district, a Class X student lost his life due to electrocution while lowering the national flag at a coaching centre in the Kujang area of Paradip on Monday.
According to reports, the national flag had been hoisted on the rooftop of the coaching centre earlier in the day. Before sunset, while following protocol to lower the flag, the student accidentally came into contact with a live electric source.
The flag was fixed to a galvanised iron (GI) rod, which reportedly touched an overhead high-voltage electric wire passing above the building. As a result, a powerful electric current passed through the rod, electrocuting the student on the spot. He collapsed immediately after sustaining a severe electric shock.
The deceased has been identified as Om Prakash Dwibedi, a Class X student and a native of Teragaon village in Kendrapara district. He had been staying at his maternal uncle’s residence in the Samagola area of Kujang to continue his studies and was attending the coaching centre where the incident occurred.
The incident has triggered shock and grief in the locality and raised serious concerns about safety measures at educational and coaching institutions, especially during national events involving flag hoisting near electrical installations.
