Mother and toddler die after electrocution in Madang

A young mother and her 18 month old son died after being electrocuted in Madang Town on Thursday night.

The tragic accident happened in the Bukbuk area of Ward 7 when the pair accidentally stepped on a fallen live power line. PNG Power workers and a police homicide team visited the site on Friday to carry out initial investigations.

Family members said the mother and child were returning from a canteen and chose a shortcut home when they came across the fallen line in the dark. Neighbours reported hearing the mother scream, and when they rushed out, they found her and her son trapped on the live wire.

Their bodies were later taken to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

John Dani, the deceased woman’s father-in-law and the boy’s grandfather, described the incident as “pure negligence” by PNG Power. He said repeated complaints about unsafe power lines had gone unaddressed and that the tragedy could have been avoided had PNG Power acted sooner.

PNG Power has assured the family that a follow-up meeting will take place on Monday, requesting statements from witnesses of the incident.

Attempts by NBC News to get a comment from PNG Power management in Madang immediately after the incident and on Friday were unsuccessful.