Sundargarh, May 1: A 31-year-old man died after being electrocuted while allegedly fishing using an illegal method in the Ib river on Thursday afternoon. Two friends accompanying him narrowly escaped serious injury.

The incident occurred in Kusumura village under the Kinjirkela police limits. The deceased has been identified as Lokeshwar Guru, a resident of the same village.

According to reports, Lokeshwar and his friends were fishing in the river using a generator to pass electric current through the water—a method that stuns or kills fish on contact. While engaged in this practice, Lokeshwar accidentally came into contact with the electrified water and suffered a severe shock. His friends immediately rushed to switch off the generator, but by the time the power was cut, Lokeshwar had already succumbed.

The two friends transported him to Kinjirkela Hospital, where doctors confirmed his death.

Following a complaint, police have registered a case and begun an investigation. The body has been sent to Sundargarh District Headquarters Hospital for post-mortem. Authorities are expected to probe the illegal fishing method, which poses significant dangers to both human life and the river’s aquatic ecosystem.