Fifteen people were electrocuted and seven injured on Wednesday at a sewage treatment plant of the Namami Gange project on the banks of the Alaknanda river in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, the police said.
Superintendent of police (Chamoli) Pramendra Dobhal said the police went to the spot to prepare a report on the electrocution late on Tuesday of a person working on the project site.
Around 11.30 am, a surge of electricity passed through a metal railing installed on the plant premises, killing 15, including police sub-inspector Pradeep Rawat and three home guard personnel. It is still being ascertained how it happened, he added.
The condition of the six injured people, who were airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh, is critical, a doctor at the healthcare facility said.
The Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited said the incident took place after power was restored to the sewage treatment plant following a 20-minute shutdown for some repairs.
The power utility said the cause of the incident can be known only after a detailed investigation, adding that its own equipment did not appear to be at fault.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Prem Chand Agarwal, visited the AIIMS-Rishikesh trauma centre and spoke to doctors about the condition of the injured.
Madhur Uniyal, a senior trauma surgeon at AIIMS, said electric current damages many organs from the time it enters the body till it exits. The most damage is done to the kidneys and the brain. As a result, nothing can be said about such patients.
Dhami has announced a magisterial inquiry and a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of each victim and Rs 1 lakh each to the injured. He said strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
District magistrate Himanshu Khurana nominated additional district magistrate Dr Abhishek Tripathi as the inquiry officer and directed him to file a detailed investigation report within a week.
Khurana has also asked Tripathi to include in his investigation the causes and the measures that can be taken to prevent such accidents in the future.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also enquired about the incident from Dhami over phone.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge condoled the loss of lives due to the accident.
In a tweet in Hindi, Kharge said, "The news of the death of many people due to the accident on the banks of Alaknanda river in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand is very painful. Policemen were also among the victims. Our deepest condolences to the bereaved families."
"We wish for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress general secretary, also expressed sadness and offered condolences to the bereaved families.
Director-General of Police Ashok Kumar prayed for peace for the dead and strength to the bereaved families.
The injured undergoing treatment at the facility are Sushil, Sandeep, Narendra, Anand, Ramchandra and Mahesh, Uniyal said.
