Farmer and son die tragically due to illegal electric fencing in Vellore

In Palankuppam village near Paranambut town in the Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, a farmer and his son died tragically on Thursday due to illegal electric fencing. According to a report by The Hindu, the accident occurred when they stepped on a broken live wire of the illegal electric fence installed to prevent wild boars from entering the field.

Police have identified the deceased as 75-year-old S. Ranganathan and his 45-year-old son R. Suresh. Both were residents of the same village and owned a 5 acre plot of land, where they cultivated paddy and groundnuts.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Ranganathan and his son Suresh had gone to the field to inspect newly planted garden saplings. Heavy rain had been falling in the area for the past few days following the onset of the North-East monsoon.

While they were inspecting the plants at various spots in the field, Ranganathan accidentally stepped on a broken live wire lying on the ground and was electrocuted. Hearing his father's screams, Suresh rushed to save him, but in the process, he also stepped on the same wire and suffered an electric shock.

Both Ranganathan and his son Suresh died on the spot in this accident. Immediately after the incident, neighbours and other farmers switched off the power supply and informed the Melpatti police. Police reached the spot and sent the bodies for post-mortem.

Police stated that since the village is located at the foothills of the Javadi Hills, illegal electric fencing had been installed to prevent wild animals, especially wild boars, from entering the fields and damaging the crops. The police have registered a case in this matter. An in-depth investigation is being conducted by the police to determine who had installed this illegal fencing around the field.