One woman and three children were electrocuted as an 11 KV power line fell on a check-dam at Pipla village under MGM thana area about 20km away from here on Sunday afternoon.

The incident occurred at about 1.30 pm when the victims were taking a bath in the water body over which the high-tension line passed.

Villagers rushed the four of them to MGM Medical College Hospital where they were declared brought dead at the medical college hospital.

The four victims were identified as Phulon Devi Mahto (45), Vimal Mahto (8), Kamal Mahto (10) and Rohit Mahto (12), all residents of Pipla village. Vimal and Kamal were brothers.

Soon after the incident, agitated villagers set up a blockade on the adjoining NH-33 in protest against the callousness of Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd (JBVNL), the discom that supplies electricity in that area.

A police party from the MGM thana area reached the spot followed by City SP, Subhash Chandra Jat and Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahto for inspection of the scene of mishap.

Those setting up the blockade were demanding the administration to produce senior officials of the JBVNL so as to take them to task. The protestors were also demanding Rs 10 lakhs to the members of each of the bereaved families.

"I had urged the JBVNL officials concerned to mend the worn out power line at Pipla village, but nothing was done by the discom. Ultimately the tragedy took place, "said the Jamshedpur MP to The Telegraph Online.

The blockade was lifted in an hour after the city SP convinced the protestors that the administration would initiate a probe and also assured of compensation.

"A case of unnatural death will be registered in connection with the four electrocution deaths, but an internal probe should also be carried out so as to find out whether the electricity department was at fault or not, " said the city SP while talking to The Telegraph Online. He said the internal probe can be done following the decision of the deputy commissioner.