Fact Check: TTE was not electrocuted by cell phone but by a live wire touching his head

The video was shared on Facebook with a caption, "A ticket inspector died after being electrocuted by his cell phone while standing on the platform. Do not cross the yellow line."

FACT CHECK:

Upon watching the video closely, we can notice that the man is neither talking on his phone nor does he have it in his hand. We see a sudden spark hitting him which leads to his fall. This indicates that the man was not electrocuted because of his phone.

A reverse image search led to finding the same video shared on Twitter by Railway officer Anand Ruppanagudi dated December 8, 2022. The tweet reads: "A freak accident— a long piece of loose cable, taken by a bird somehow came in contact with the OHE wire and the other end came down and touched a TTE's head. He suffered burn injuries, but out of danger— at Kharagpur station yesterday afternoon!" Here the cause is clearly mentioned as "long piece of loose cable …. touched a TTE's head."

Several media outlets reported about the incident and shared the same video. Here too, all reports stated that the TTC was electrocuted after coming in contact with a live wire. An article in India Today reads, "A railway official suffered burn injuries after he was electrocuted by a live wire at Kharagpur railway station in West Bengal." Times Now News describes the incident in the following manner: "Man is chatting with someone on the platform with his back to the tracks. A live wire falls loose from behind him and touches him."

Thus, it is evident that the TTE was electrocuted when a live wire touched his head and not because of his phone. Thus, the claim is misleading.