A quiet Sunday morning turned into a scene of unimaginable grief in Kaualikanda village, located within the Paikura union of Netrokona’s Kendua upazila. Two young brothers lost their lives after coming into contact with a live earthing wire while playing outside their home on Sunday, 11 October. The tragedy unfolded around 6:45 am, leaving the entire community reeling in shock and sorrow.
The deceased children have been identified as seven-year-old Moad Mia and his five-year-old brother, Arafat Mia. Both were the sons of local resident Abdus Sattar.
According to local residents and police reports, the two young boys had woken up early and were playing in the courtyard of their house. During their play, one of the brothers inadvertently touched a Palli Bidyut earthing wire linked to the electrical connection of a neighbour, Nuresha Khatun. The wire was unexpectedly carrying an active electric charge. As the child became trapped by the current, his brother instinctively tried to pull him to safety, only to be caught in the same lethal force.
Hearing the commotion, nearby neighbours rushed to the spot and managed to free the children. They immediately brought the boys to the Kendua Upazila Health Complex, where the attending doctor pronounced them dead upon arrival.
Kendua Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Torikul Islam confirmed the tragic fatalities. He stated that a police team was dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident. Legal formalities are being completed, after which the bodies will be officially handed over to the grieving family for burial.
The accident has raised serious questions about local electrical safety and maintenance. An earthing wire is designed to divert excess or faulty currents safely into the ground, preventing electric shocks. When such a line carries live voltage instead, it points to severe technical defects, improper insulation, or faulty domestic wiring. Rural power networks operated under local electrification boards often face vulnerabilities from exposed wiring and weather-induced moisture, making routine checks vital. Local authorities and community members emphasize that inspecting household wiring and securing cables out of children’s reach are crucial steps to prevent such devastating accidents.
