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Three teens injured after flag strikes high-voltage line during Alor Setar procession
ALOR SETAR, Oct 14 — Three teenage boys were injured by an electric shock after a flag they were carrying during a vegetable temple procession in Mergong, near here, tonight allegedly came into contact with a high-voltage power line.
Mergong Vegetable Temple Association Secretary Chah Boon Chuan said the incident, which occurred at about 9pm, resulted in two 17-year-old victims and one 16-year-old being rushed to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) here.
“The incident happened while thousands of procession participants were marching along the main road in the area before one of the flags allegedly hit the power line. The flag was blown by strong winds during light rain before it was suspected of hitting the power line.
“A teenager holding the flag and two others who were nearby were injured due to the electric shock. All three of them are understood to be receiving treatment in the red zone of HSB,” he said when met at the compound of the HSB Emergency and Trauma Department last night.
He said the three teenagers are still receiving treatment and their current condition is not yet known.
“The pole used to carry the flag was made of bamboo, and this is the first time such an incident has occurred,” he said.
High-voltage breakdown: While dry bamboo acts as a weak insulator at low voltages, its insulating properties break down completely when exposed to high-voltage or live power lines, allowing current to pass through.
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u/Stickyboard 1d ago
Similar things happened in India. So next time they actually powered down the line and cut it before the procession. Nuts