Mangaluru: Three persons, including a couple, were electrocuted after they came in contact with a live wire in Ujjodi in Kankanady police station limits on Sunday.

According to the police, Sandeep (25), a native of Moodbidri, climbed up a coconut tree in the house of Valerian Lobo (55) by using an iron ladder.

He climbed the coconut tree to remove pepper from creepers around the tree. Valerian Lobo was holding the ladder.

The police said that the ladder tilted and touched the 11 kV electricity supply line. Sandeep and Lobo were electrocuted. Mr. Lobo’s wife Hasmi (51) tried to rescue her husband but she too was electrocuted.

The incident occurred around 1 p.m. Their two children were not in the house when the incident occurred. All the three died on the spot, the police said.

Mr. Lobo was working as a mechanic in the New Mangalore Port Trust. Ms. Lobo was a former employee of the School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya. Sandeep was working in a canteen in Gurupura.

The Kankanady police have registered a case of accidental death. The Electrical Inspectorate and the Mangalore Electricty Supply Company Limited are independently inquiring into the incident.