Three children who were taking part in a religious procession were electrocuted and 15 were injured in Islampur on Friday.

Sources said some residents were moving on a truck with flags atop long poles through the bypass of NH31 when one of the bamboo poles came in contact with high tension electric wires of the highway.

Almost all those on the truck got jolt and suffered injuries. Three children, who were in the vehicle, also received electric shock.

All of them were rushed to the subdivisional hospital in Islampur where doctors pronounced Mohammad Rajiv, 11, and Anjali Khatun, 10, dead. Later, five of them were sent to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri where Tahir Reza, 11, succumbed to his injuries. Around 10 others are under treatment at Islampur hospital.

Senior police officials and Golam Rabbani, an MLA of North Dinajpur and the minister of state for labour, rushed to the spot. Police have started an investigation. “The state government is with the bereaved families,” Rabbani said.