Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Jan 9: A contract worker engaged in electricity line repair work died after falling from a pole at Kajebailu in Indabettu village of the taluk on Thursday.

The deceased has been identified as Akbar Ali (22), son of Ismail, a resident of N C Road, Kavalamuduru village in Bantwal. He was working for an electrical contracting firm.

According to details, on Thursday, a tree had fallen on an electric line in Kajebailu under the MESCOM Ujire subdivision, resulting in one electric pole breaking and two others bending. Repair work was taken up through a contractor from Ujire, and Akbar Ali, along with other staff of the firm, was engaged in restoring the line.

It is said that the power supply to the line was disconnected through GOS before the work began. However, while Akbar Ali was on the pole, he reportedly suffered an electric shock and, while attempting to come down, lost balance and fell to the ground, resulting in his death. Though the power supply had been cut, it is not yet clear how the worker received the shock, or whether he lost control and fell for some other reason. MESCOM officials are said to be conducting an inquiry into the incident.

Akbar Ali was the only son among the four children of Ismail and was unmarried. After completing his high school education, he had taken up work due to financial difficulties, sources said. Beltangady police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.