Construction worker dies saving family from electrocution in Gummidipoondi SIPCOT

A 37-year-old construction worker died and three of his family members were seriously injured after being electrocuted by an iron clothesline during heavy rain in Gummidipoondi SIPCOT, near Chennai, on Thursday night. The deceased, identified as R Nagarajan, was electrocuted while attempting to rescue his brother’s family.

Nagarajan, a native of Gorimedu, worked as a construction worker along with his elder brother, R Sekar (40). The two brothers lived with their respective families in adjacent sheds in the Gummidipoondi SIPCOT locality.

The accident occurred during heavy rainfall on Thursday night. Sekar’s wife, S Revathi (35), went outside to remove clothes from an iron clothesline that was tied to a palm tree near their home. As she touched the line, she suffered a severe electric shock and cried out for help.

Hearing her screams, Sekar and their 16-year-old daughter, S Subha, rushed outside to save her. However, both of them were also electrocuted upon making contact with the line.

Nagarajan then rushed to the scene to rescue his brother, sister-in-law, and niece. He was electrocuted immediately when he touched the clothesline in his rescue attempt.

Local neighbours heard the commotion and rushed all four family members to a nearby hospital. Upon arrival, medical professionals declared Nagarajan brought dead. His body was later sent to the Ponneri Government Hospital for a postmortem examination before being handed over to his family.

The other three family members—Sekar, Revathi, and Subha—sustained serious injuries from the shock. After receiving initial attention, they were referred to the Government Medical College Hospital in Tiruvallur, where they are currently undergoing treatment.

Local police have initiated an inquiry into the incident. According to preliminary police investigations, there are no overhead electric lines or utility poles near the palm tree where the clothesline was tied. Police suspect that electric current may have leaked from the house's internal electrical wiring to the iron clothesline, though the exact cause of the electrocution is yet to be fully ascertained.