Nine kanwariyas (devotees of Lord Shiva) were electrocuted and two others seriously injured when their metal trolley fitted with music systems and loudspeakers came in contact with high-tension 11,000-volt electricity supply cables in Bihar’s Vaishali district late on Sunday night.

The incident occurred at around 11:45pm at Sultanpur under the Industrial police station near Hajipur in the district. All the deceased were Dalits — five of them hailed from Sultanpur village, while the rest were from Jadua Badhai Tola.

The place where the kanwariyas were electrocuted. Pictures by Sanjay Choudhary

The group of pilgrims, dancing to the tunes of devotional songs, was moving towards the Pahleja Ghat on the banks of the Ganga to collect water and carry it as an offering to the Garibnath temple at Muzaffarpur. Several members of the group were inside the trolley.

Their metal trolley fitted with music systems and loudspeakers came in contact with overhead electric cables hanging loose on the way. It burst into flames and those inside were immediately zapped by the current.

“We saw everything happening but could do nothing to save them due to electric current, sparks and fire. We called the area power substation to cut the electric supply, but nobody took our call. We finally went there to get the supply cut and also brought a couple of electricians with us. By that time nine people had been charred to death. We took the injured to hospital,” said Dhirendra Kumar, a local.

The district administration and police officials also rushed to the accident site.

The district administration and police officials at Sultanpur village in Vaishali district of Bihar. Picture by Sanjay Choudhary

“Nine people have died in the incident. The condition of the two injured has improved and they have been discharged from the hospital. We visited the victims’ families. The post-mortem of the deceased has been done. We have made preparations for cremation at Konhara Ghat to help the grieving families,” Vaishali district magistrate Yashpal Meena told reporters.

The DM added that those responsible for the mishap would not be spared.

Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the deaths and directed the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Limited, which is a state government enterprise, to pay ₹4 lakh ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased.