Itanagar: A pall of grief has descended upon Lumdung village in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Kameng district following a heart-wrenching tragedy where two brothers were electrocuted to death while setting up a funeral site for their late sibling. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has left the community in shock as it grapples with the loss of three members from a single family in a devastatingly short period. The deceased have been identified as Harang Natung and Bado Natung.
The brothers were reportedly erecting a pandal in preparation for the final rites of their brother, Maye Natung, whose body was on its way from Delhi. In a cruel twist of fate, the men came into contact with a live electrical wire during the process, leading to their instantaneous death. This sudden calamity compounds the sorrow for a family and a village already in mourning.
Harang Natung was the son of Tajam and Yape Natung, while his brother Bado Natung, a respected figure in the community, served as the Head Gaon Burah of Lumdung village. He was the son of the late Basang and Memak Natung. The tragedy has cast a long shadow over the region, with local residents and officials struggling to comprehend the scale of the loss.
Superintendent of Police Kamdom Sikom, speaking to The Space, confirmed that the electrocution appears to be a tragic accident. “Preliminary findings suggest that this was a mishap during the erection of the pandal and not due to direct negligence by the Power Department,” Sikom stated. He reiterated the importance of safety, urging residents to exercise extreme caution with electricity and to seek professional help for such tasks.
Police and emergency services responded promptly, but tragically, the two men could not be saved. An inquiry has been initiated to ascertain if faulty wiring or poor earthing contributed to the fatal accident. As the investigation unfolds, the community remains in profound grief, with hundreds gathering to offer their condolences and support to the bereaved family.
Home Minister Mama Natung, a relative of the deceased who also hails from the same village, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident. “I am deeply anguished by this irreparable loss. My heartfelt prayers are with the bereaved families during this unbearable hour. May their souls rest in peace,” he said in a statement. The village now faces the somber task of mourning not one, but three lives lost in a matter of days, turning a moment meant for farewells into a scene of unimaginable sorrow.
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