Overview
- Priyabrata Behera, a physical education teacher at Royal High School in Maitapur, was electrocuted when an iron pipe being used as a flagpole touched an overhead power line and he was declared dead at Bhadrak hospital on Saturday morning.
- Simulia police have registered a case of unnatural death and opened an investigation after first responders took Behera to the local health centre and then referred him to the district hospital.
- Three to four students who tried to help were treated for electric shock at Simulia Community Health Centre and some were later discharged after receiving care.
- Behera’s father publicly blamed the school for calling his son in despite his reluctance to go, underscoring the family’s economic vulnerability and anger at the loss of their main earner.
- A separate fatality the same day in Nabarangpur after an iron pole allegedly contacted an 11 kV line points to wider safety gaps in ad-hoc flag-hoisting activities and may prompt calls for stricter precautions around overhead lines.