Bengaluru: A gnawing rat is said to have set off a chain of events that culminated in the death of a mother and her toddler in eastern Bengaluru on Sunday morning.
Bescom officials on Monday revealed that a rodent inside a load break switch of an apartment complex in Maithri Layout caused a short circuit around 3.50 am, tripping the electricity line at the station and simultaneously snapping the 11KV feeder line that electrocuted Soundharya and her toddler at the Hope Farm Junction. Bescom staff did not notice the live wire since it did not trip again.
Addressing the press on Monday, T Shanthamallappa, General Manager for Quality, Safety, and Standard, Bescom, said the maintenance staff conducted a test charge five minutes after the short circuit occurred, which charged the snapped wire.
