A married couple died after being electrocuted while using an electric machine to cut grass for their livestock at their home in Madhabpur village of Shailkupa upazila in Jhenaidah on Wednesday morning.
The deceased were identified as Amarendra Nath Bhowmik, 70, and his wife, Mina Bhowmik, 60, residents of Madhabpur village. Their deaths have left relatives, neighbours and other local residents in shock.
According to local sources, Amarendra went to the cattle shed early on Wednesday, as he did regularly, to cut grass for the family’s livestock. He was operating an electrically powered grass-cutting machine when he was apparently electrocuted.
After noticing that her husband had come into contact with electricity, Mina went towards him in an attempt to rescue him. She too was exposed to the electrical current and was seriously affected.
Relatives rushed the couple to Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex after the incident. They arrived at the hospital at around 7.30am. Emergency department doctor Asaduzzaman Joha examined them and declared both Amarendra and Mina dead.
Shailkupa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla confirmed the deaths.
The precise circumstances that led to the electrocution were not immediately clear. It could not initially be established whether the grass-cutting machine itself had an electrical fault, whether there was a problem with its wiring or connection, or whether another factor contributed to the accident. Further assessment would be needed to determine exactly what happened.
The incident has also highlighted the risks associated with using electrically powered equipment in domestic and agricultural settings. Electrical machines used around livestock sheds or other household areas can pose serious risks if wires, plugs, switches or connections are damaged or improperly maintained. Basic safety checks before operating such equipment can help identify potential hazards, while faulty machinery should not be used until it has been properly repaired.
For families that regularly rely on electrical equipment for agricultural or livestock-related work, ensuring that connections are secure and that equipment is in sound working condition is particularly important. Contact with electricity can cause severe injury or death within moments, making caution essential when operating machinery.
The deaths of Amarendra and Mina in the same incident have cast a pall of grief over Madhabpur village. Relatives and neighbours expressed sorrow at the sudden loss of the couple, whose deaths in a single household accident have deeply affected the local community.
