Two pedestrians injured in suspected electrical shock at flooded Chongqing underpass

Two pedestrians were taken to hospital in Chongqing, southwestern China, after suffering a suspected electric shock and losing consciousness in a rain-flooded pedestrian underpass on the night of 25 August 2026, according to a police statement.

Incident near popular tourist attraction

The Yuzhong District Sub-bureau of the Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau said the incident occurred at 8.35pm at the pedestrian underpass beneath a footbridge at No. 88 Jiabin Road.

Patrol officers reached the scene quickly and sent the injured to hospital for treatment.

The statement said security measures had since been put in place around the site and that relevant departments were investigating the cause of the accident.

The location sits near Hongyadong, a stilted riverside complex in Yuzhong District that is among Chongqing's best-known tourist attractions and draws large crowds.

Heavy rain leaves waterlogged underpass

According to an account given to Chinese outlet Jiupai News by an eyewitness surnamed Chen, who took part in the rescue, Chongqing was hit by heavy rain that evening, leaving standing water on the road surface.

Chen said he heard screaming at around 8.30pm and saw two people lying on the carriageway below a flight of steps, one face down and unresponsive, the other face up and unable to move.

Chen estimated the pool of water where the pair had fallen covered around two to three square metres and was roughly 10 centimetres deep.

He said the water appeared to be carrying an electric current, causing a numbing shock to anyone who touched it, which meant bystanders could not simply pull the victims out by hand.

Bystanders use improvised rescue methods

Footage of the incident shows bystanders using umbrellas to hook and turn over the woman lying face down.

According to Chen, a sanitation worker then supplied thick plastic bags that were handed to security staff, allowing the group to drag both victims onto the steps without direct contact with the water.

Bystanders reportedly performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for more than 10 minutes until police and emergency medical personnel arrived.

By the time the pair were taken away by ambulance, the woman who had been face up had reportedly regained consciousness, while the other victim showed no response, Chen said.

Another eyewitness reportedly confirmed that two people had been seen lying on the road that night.

Authorities investigate suspected electrical leak

Chen told Jiupai News that the spot had previously served as a bus stop and suggested the water there may have been deeper than elsewhere.

He added that one of the victims had been wearing thin-soled slippers, which he speculated may have contributed to the shock.

Chen said the area was busy with onlookers eager to help, while security personnel moved quickly to cordon off the site.

He added that two people believed to be relatives of the victims were seen nearby, visibly distressed.

Local reports said emergency services and power utility authorities had been mobilised to trace the source of the suspected electrical leak, with both victims reportedly still receiving treatment.

Police have not released further details on the pair's identities, injuries or the results of the investigation into the cause of the accident.