Two people lost their lives due to electrocution in separate incidents in Rautahat district on Wednesday while operating electric water pumps for irrigation.

According to Garuda Area Police Office, 40-year-old Rambabu Mukhiya of Bishunpura Manpur in Madhav Narayan Municipality-4 was electrocuted while attempting to pump water into his field using an electric motor. He was critically injured and immediately rushed to the Provincial Hospital in Gaur, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

His body has been kept at the same hospital for post-mortem. An investigation into the incident is underway, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajan Karki of the Garuda Police Office.

In a separate incident, 52-year-old Mokhtar Dewan of Jamuniya, Kathariya Municipality-2, also died after being electrocuted while operating an electric motor for irrigation. Dewan was taken to Grandy Hospital in Garuda, where he too was declared dead by attending doctors.

His body has been sent to the Provincial Hospital for post-mortem.

Cases of electrocution due to negligence by both electricity authorities and consumers are reportedly on the rise across Madhesh Province, according to local officials.