Five students electrocuted in Karnataka

Bengaluru, August 18

Five high school students died of electrocution today after they came in contact with an overhead power line while allegedly trying to remove a flagpole on the first floor of their government-run hostel in Koppal, police said.

The pole had been erected for hoisting the national flag for Independence Day celebrations. Two students got electrocuted first as they came in contact with the 11-kV power line running adjacent to the first floor. Three other students rushed to save the two but all of them died, the police said.

Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa ordered a probe into the tragic incident and announced a relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased, all boys.

The hostel was being run at a private building on a rental basis, and the five were studying in classes 8 to 10 in the district headquarters town, about 350 km from here. The police said they had registered a case. — PTI