Daijiworld Media Network - Rishikesh
Rishikesh, Aug 18: A 32-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter were electrocuted after a snapped low-tension power line spread current through a waterlogged area in Rishikesh amid heavy rain, officials said on Monday.
The woman, identified as Suman Jethudi, was carrying her daughter Srishti in her arms when the tragedy occurred late on Sunday evening. In a final act of protection, Suman signalled her 12-year-old son to stay away from the water, saving his life.
According to police, the low-tension power line snapped due to heavy rain and strong winds and fell into a waterlogged stretch of road. The electrical current spread through the water, fatally electrocuting Suman and her daughter.
Following the incident, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) suspended Junior Engineer Shambhu Prasad Bahuguna with immediate effect and ordered an inquiry.
Suman's husband, Harpal Singh Jethudi, lodged a complaint against UPCL Executive Engineer Shakti Prasad, Sub-Divisional Engineer Shashikant Singh and Junior Engineer Bahuguna. Police have registered a case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation.
Taking serious note of the incident, UPCL Managing Director Prakash Chandra Dhyani suspended Bahuguna, who is posted at the Raiwala electricity distribution subdivision.
Angry locals demanded compensation for the bereaved family and strict action against those responsible. Pushpa Rawat, a local resident and member of the Tehri Garhwal Zila Panchayat, sought financial assistance of Rs 1 crore for the family.
Rawat said the incident prima facie appeared to involve departmental negligence. She said locals had been demanding the installation of aerial bunching cables for the past year and claimed the accident could have been prevented had the cables been installed.
Dhyani held an emergency meeting in Dehradun to review the incident and ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths. A three-member inquiry committee comprising chief engineer-rank officials has been constituted and directed to submit its report immediately.
Dhyani said strict action in accordance with the rules would be taken against anyone found responsible.
He also ordered a special safety inspection and preventive maintenance drive for power lines and other electrical assets across Uttarakhand. Under the drive, all low-tension lines will be closely inspected, while faults and potential hot spots will be identified by examining joints, terminals, connections and other critical points using thermal vision cameras under load conditions.
Waterlogged areas, markets, schools, hospitals, densely populated localities and public thoroughfares will receive priority during the safety inspections.