A 65-year-old man died in India’s Madhya Pradesh after he reportedly came into contact with an 11KV high-tension power line while spitting gutka from his third-floor balcony.
According to reports, the incident took place as Prabhulal Gupta was standing on the balcony of his rented house around 1 pm and his betel quid spit came into contact with the overhead wire, leaving him severely burnt.
Gupta, a mason originally from Chhatarpur, had lived in the rented house for the past 10 years.
Electrical experts said that such an incident can occur under certain conditions. Saliva contains moisture and dissolved salts, which can make it conductive. A continuous stream of fluid that reaches a live conductor could provide a path for electricity.
The experts added that an 11KV line can produce an electrical arc. If the balcony sits close enough to the conductor, electricity can jump through the air. If current then passes through the body, the shock can cause severe burns or death.
The incident angered residents, who alleged that the electricity company ignored repeated complaints about high-tension wires running dangerously close to homes.
Gupta’s landlord Padma Chidhar said electricity poles, wires and distribution transformers in the locality were in poor condition and locals had complained several times about the 11KV line, but nobody addressed their concerns.
She said that she had also approached power department officials several times to ask them to remove the line, but no action was taken.
