Couple electrocuted in Jhenaidah

An elderly couple died after being electrocuted while operating an electric grass-cutting machine in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah on Wednesday morning.

The deceased were Amarendra Nath Bhowmik, 70, and his wife Mina Bhowmik, 60, of Madhabpur village under Manoharpur Union.

Their neighbour Mukul Hossain said  Amarendra went to the cowshed at his home in the morning to cut grass using an electric machine to prepare feed for his cattle.

He got electrocuted when he turned on the machine.

Seeing her husband struggling, Mina rushed to rescue him but was also electrocuted as she tried to help him without taking any safety precautions.

Neighbours immediately disconnected the power supply and rescued the couple.

They were rushed to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex, where on-duty physician Dr Asaduzzaman Joha declared them dead.

“The couple had died before they were brought to the hospital. They died quickly after being electrocuted,” the doctor said.

Shailkupa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla said the bodies were handed over to the family for burial without an investigation as the relatives did not object.