Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Mangaluru, Aug 17: The assistant parish priest of St Sebastian Church, Permanur, Fr Stany Pinto and locals staged protest on August 17, Friday, against the negligence of MESCOM, following the death of Ashok D’Souza. The 28-year-old lost his life in Ullal on Thursday evening after coming in contact with a live wire fallen on the ground, which was cut due to the high-velocity wind.
Protesting against Ashok’s body being taken away, they held MESCOM, revenue department and municipal council responsible for his death.
Speaking to the media, Fr Pinto said that Ashok’s family is very poor and Ashok was the main breadwinner. “The family is now ruined. The incident happened as electric cables snapped. Therefore Rs 25 lac compensation should be paid to his family. Besides, the municipal council should construct suitable roads for the people here as the area comes under council limits. Minister U T Khader has promised highest compensation. Therefore, the department should provide the same,” he demanded.
Tahsildar Guruprasad assured to pay Rs five lac on priority to the family. “It is raining very heavily here since the last five days. The revenue department is working round the clock. The death of Ashok was unfortunate. Therefore, I will recommend for special compensation from the chief minister for the poor family,” he said. He also assured compensation by MESCOM after investigations. “Road cannot be constructed due to local elections. It will be constructed after elections and after obtaining survey numbers of the land and holding discussions with concerned officials,” he added.
He asked the concerned staff to speak to the forest department officials regarding cutting trees in the vicinity.
Not ordinary rain, warns Tahsildar
Tahsildar Guruprasad has warned families living near rivers in the district. He said that two people are washed away near Mooduperar in rain water on Thursday. “There are floods in Kolambe, Adyapadi, Pavooru and parts of Pavooru Uliya. People staying in low lying area should know that this is not ordinary rain. Water has increased on Thursday after 11 pm. As floods will increase in low lying areas, those staying in such areas should follow instructions from the district administration,” he stressed.
Mangaluru City Corporation deputy commissioner - revenue, Gayatri Nayak said that the district administration has taken precautions in time. “There are suspicions that the cable snapped due to the storm. As per the request of the locals, we will provide highest compensation possible. People should join hands with the department to prevent such accidents. People should avoid walking in flood water at night. The compensation will be handed to the family after the department receives the post-mortem report,” she added.
MESCOM officer Dayanand, Rajesh, municipal commissioner of Ullal Vani Alva and others were present.
Breadwinner of the family
Ashok is the eldest among Evri and Monica D' Souza’s three children. As Evri was sick, Ashok took up the family’s responsibility. He used to earn income by constructing boats and selling tender coconuts.
On Thursday, Ashok as usual set to work and has even met a few friends. He had received a call from his home and was on the way back, when the incident happened. As water had flooded half a kilometre from his house, Ashok started wading in the water. He was electrocuted when a live electric wire snapped and fell into the water.
Meanwhile, his family kept waiting as Ashok had told he is on his way home. They later pacified thinking Ashok must have stayed in a friend’s home due to rains. The incident came to light on Friday morning when some neighbours spotted his dead body floating in the water and informed the same to the family. Municipal councillor Sunder Uliya visited the spot and informed MESCOM department and police.
Ashok was the family’s pillar of strength. His parents are inconsolable.