'Mistake' claims one life

One electrical worker was killed and 10 others critically injured while repairing an electric line of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) at Rajapur upazila in Jhalakathi yesterday.

The dead is Rabbi, 22, a resident of Saturia area in Rajapur, said Md Jahid Hossain, officer-in-charge of Rajapur Police Station.

Locals took the injured workers to Rajapur Health Complex after the incident. Later, they were referred to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College in Barishal, the OC added.

According to a witness, the workers asked the BREB officials to turn off the power as they were about to start working on the electrical wirings. However, the workers were electrified as soon as they touched the line after receiving confirmation from the BREB.

Rajan Kumar Das, assistant general manager of Rajapur BREB, said "The contractor instructed us to shut down the power of the upazila area. We followed his instruction. But his workers started working at Saturia area. We were not informed about that earlier."

The contractor could not be reached after the incident, he added.

The body was sent to Jhalakathi Sadar Hospital for autopsy, said the OC.