Three workers were electrocuted to death and two others injured after a crane came into contact with an overhead power line in the Khapara area of Khilkhet in Dhaka today.

The victims are Md Rajib Hossain, 25, of Fuljhuri village in Barguna Sadar, Razzak Mia, 57, of Basuki village in Barguna Sadar, Farid Jaman, 64, of Battachor village in Jamalpur’s Bakshiganj upazila, said police.

Sub-Inspector of Khilkhet Police Station Reazul Jabbar said the incident took place around 4:00pm when Desco was installing a power line underground.

At least 20-25 workers were working to lay a power line underground. At that time, five workers were electrocuted and taken to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors declared three dead.

Desco Chief Engineer Manjurul Haque said for the last one month, the employees of Desco's outsourcing (subcontractor) company were laying electric wires.

“Today, around 4:30pm, workers were unloading cables from a truck using a crane. When the crane touched an overhead power line, five of them got electrocuted. Later, three of them died,” he added.

Police are looking into the matter, said the SI.