Two children died and four others sustained serious injuries due to electric shock at Dipayal Silgadhi Municipality, Doti, on Monday. The incident happened when the children, who were on their way to school, touched a wire that had fallen on the road.

Police identified the deceased as 10-year-old Roja Auji and her eight-year-old sister Reshma. Kalu Auji, Ishwora Auji, Santu Auji and Sita Auji, who are between the ages of 7 and 10 years, were injured. They were admitted to the District Hospital.

All the children went to local Durga Lower Secondary School.

Local people staged a protest following the incident, accusing Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) of negligence. 

Lalit Narayan Chaudhary, the chief of NEA district office, said the wire had snapped after an insulator device gave way which was most likely caused by rain.

The NEA district office has decided to provide Rs 30,000 each to the family of the deceased children as well as foot the medical bill of the injured children.

Chaudhary said that under the NEA’s compensation provision in case of fatal accidents, the affected family is entitled to receive Rs 500,000, but it should be approved by the centre.