Moodbidri, Oct 22: An 18-year-old college student and his mother died of electrocution at their residence in Posalayi Kelagina Mane, Varnabettu, under the Paladka gram panchayat limits. The deceased have been identified as Shaun Mascarenhas (18), a second-year Pre-University Course (PUC) student at Holy Rosary PU College in Moodbidri, and his mother, Mercy Mascarenhas (45).

The incident is suspected to have occurred between 6.30 pm and 7 pm on Wednesday. It came to light the following morning, between 7 am and 8 am, when Sundara Poojary, a labourer who had arrived at the house for plantation work, discovered the tragedy.

Shaun had reportedly taken a bath and gone outside to hang his wet clothes on a wire clothesline. He is suspected to have suffered an electric shock after current leaked into the wire. Hearing her son’s cries, Mercy rushed to rescue him but was herself electrocuted. Both died at the spot.

According to local residents, the house had a tiled roof supported by iron rafters rather than conventional wooden beams. An electrical line ran from a nearby pole directly to the iron framework. A damaged or snapped power cable is suspected to have come into contact with the iron structure, making it live. When Shaun attempted to hang his clothes on the wire attached to the framework, he received an electric shock and cried out for help. His mother, who rushed to pull him away, was also electrocuted.

Mercy’s husband, Simon Mascarenhas, died around 15 years ago. Since then, she and Shaun had been living together and supporting themselves through agriculture. Simon’s brother, Jerry Mascarenhas, had been looking after the family’s welfare. As Jerry is currently returning from abroad, the funeral and last rites of the deceased will be held after his arrival.

Tahsildar Sreedhara Mundalamani, former Paladka gram panchayat vice-president Sukesh Shetty Kemaru, police personnel and MESCOM officials visited the house and inspected the scene.