Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 3: A young lineman got electrocuted on Thursday March 3 after he came into contact with high tension cables while working on an electric pole at Sorake Parantolu in Sarve village in the taluk. The deceased has been identified as Shreeshaila (28) from Bagalkot district.

Shreeshaila was on a training period, and posted to Savanur sub-centre of Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd (Mescom). The unfortunate incident happened when he was undertaking some repair work on the electric pole on Thursday afternoon. Accidentally, Shreeshaila's body came into contact with high tension wires passing above. He was tossed off the electric pole, fell down, and died on the spot.

The youth had been selected for the post of lineman during January 2016. As three years training period is mandatory before services of a lineman can be confirmed, he had been posted at Savanur sub-centre of Mescom for training purpose. It is gathered that during training period, candidates chosen for lineman's post are not expected to be told to scale the electric poles and do repair work, as they are not backed by insurance cover during this period. There is a possibility of Shreshaila having been asked to do repair work on the pole because of acute shortage of linemen in the area, it is said.

This is the third instance in which candidates chosen for the post of linemen lost their lives during training period since last year. Locals however, have bitterly criticized the Mescom officials for not taking precautions like switching off power supply through cables before asking their employee to go up the electric pole.