After the death of lineman Shyam Sunder Rajak, the family and all the villagers blocked NH-75.

In a tragic incident caused by alleged negligence of the electricity department, 28-year-old lineman Shyam Sundar Rajak from Lotapahad village in Sonua block lost his life after sustaining severe burns while repairing an 11,000-volt line.

On August 1, 2025, Rajak was working on the high-voltage line, which had been switched off for maintenance, in Adivasi Tola, Landupada, under the Landupada Grid in Bandgaon, Chakradharpur. However, due to departmental carelessness, another lineman switched the power back on from the grid without confirming the status, resulting in a fatal electric shock.

Rajak was rushed to TMH Jamshedpur, where he battled for life for several days before succumbing to his injuries on the evening of August 8, 2025. He leaves behind his 25-year-old widow, Pushpa Rajak, and grieving family members.

Following his death, grief turned into anger. The family and residents of Lotapahad village staged a protest by blocking NH-75, demanding justice and immediate support for the bereaved family. Traffic remained halted for hours, drawing the attention of the local administration.

Upon learning of the incident, social worker Amit Mahato visited TMH Jamshedpur late in the evening to console the widow and family. Standing in solidarity with them, Mahato demanded the following from the Electricity Department and the Government of Jharkhand:

₹50,000 for funeral expenses
₹15 lakh compensation from the government
Lifetime pension of 90% of the deceased’s salary for the widow (as per government rules)
₹5 lakh compensation from the labor supply company Geetraj Engineering Pvt. Ltd.
Full payment of life insurance benefits

Mahato further warned that if these demands were not met, he, along with the villagers and family members, would stage a sit-in protest at the electricity department office.

Former AJSU Party candidate from Manoharpur constituency, Dr. Dinesh Chand Boipai, declared that all party workers would support the protest and were ready to join the villagers in their movement.

In a partial relief to the grieving family, the local administration provided an immediate relief amount of ₹2 lakh. The police assured the family of continued assistance, including help in securing jobs for dependents and accessing other government welfare schemes.

Also present during the events were social workers Manik Mahato, Akash Rajak, and several others who pledged their support to the family in their fight for justice.