How A Life-Threatening Electric Shock Became a Story of Courage and Faith in Jharkhand

May 30, 2026: An ordinary day in Rai village turned into a moment of terror on May 25, 2023, when an 11000-voltage electricity wire struck Shri Paratha Khoya, leaving his life hanging by a thread. As panic spread through the village, one man stepped forward without thinking of his own safety.

Paulus, a member connected to the Basic Ecclesial Community (BEC), risked his own life to rescue Shri Paratha. His courageous act became a living testimony to the Word of Life: “No greater love than this to lay down one's life for a friend.”

But the rescue was only the beginning.

In the days that followed, the community stood firmly beside Shri Paratha and his family. Despite belonging to a different denomination, Paulus continued to extend selfless care. With prayers, emotional support, and collective concern, the community came together to ensure that Shri Paratha received treatment.

He was first admitted to Khunti Government Hospital and later transferred to a better facility in Ranchi. The doctors, moved by the collective plea of the community and the priest, admitted him. Against all odds, Shri Paratha made a full recovery.

The Vision Behind the Communion of Communities

Behind this powerful story stands Father Bisu Aind, Vicar General of the Khunti diocese, whose vision of building a communion of communities has transformed the Cathedral Parish in Khunti.

Under the leadership of its Parish Priest and the dedicated guidance of Father Aind, the parish has blossomed into a communion of communities rooted in shared faith, care, and resilience.

With unwavering commitment, Father Aind embraced the vision of Basic Ecclesial Communities. Today, sixty vibrant BECs thrive within the parish, changing its face and renewing its spirit. Through this journey, Father Aind discovered his profound role as a community builder, realising that the care of many becomes possible through the collective effort of all.

Beyond the Walls of the Cathedral

The impact of these communities extends far beyond the cathedral walls. It reaches the fields, markets, and neighbourhoods where parishioners live out their faith every day.

Father Aind acknowledges the limitations of a single Parish Priest personally tending to the needs of thousands. Yet through the BECs, parishioners have become each other's strength and support, reflecting the true essence of community life.

The incident in Rai village revealed this transformation in a deeply human way. What could have ended as a tragedy became a story of courage, unity, prayer, and hope because a community chose not to remain silent spectators.

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Communities That Heal and Transform

Reflecting on the incident, Father Aind acknowledges that he, as a shepherd appointed by the Lord through the bishop, plays a vital role in the lives of the Catholics and all residents of his territory.

For him, this is not just one isolated story. It is a reflection of the transformative power of the Word of God working through people who choose to care for one another.

Father Aind is eager to share more such stories emerging from the Basic Ecclesial Communities, each revealing how ordinary people, united by faith and love, can become instruments of healing and change.

The journey of the Cathedral Parish in Khunti stands today as a beacon of hope — a living example of how communities rooted in faith can transform lives, restore hope, and prove that there is truly no greater love than the love shared within a caring community.

By Catholic Connect Reporter