Keonjhar, Jul 29: A firefighter lost his life after being electrocuted while carrying out a flood rescue operation in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Wednesday, in a tragic incident that occurred amid the ongoing flood situation caused by incessant rainfall.

The incident took place near the Government Girls' High School in Keonjhar town, where a residential house had been inundated following heavy rain triggered by a low-pressure system. After receiving information about the waterlogging, a team from the Fire and Emergency Services rushed to the spot and began pumping out the accumulated floodwater.

While the operation was underway, a clothesline inside the house premises reportedly became live due to an electrical fault. Unaware that the wire was carrying electricity, the firefighter accidentally came into contact with it and suffered a severe electric shock, collapsing on the spot.

Fellow firefighters immediately rescued him and shifted him to the Keonjhar District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

The firefighter was on duty, assisting a flood-affected family trapped by rising water, when the fatal accident occurred. His death has sent shockwaves across the district, with colleagues and local residents mourning the loss of a brave emergency responder who sacrificed his life while serving the public.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by rescue personnel during flood relief operations and highlighted the importance of ensuring electrical safety in waterlogged areas during the monsoon season. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.