High-tension wire claims another life in Bijnor

BIJNOR: The threat of high-tension wires was evident again on Tuesday when an 18-year-old tea seller, and also a part-time electrician, died after being electrocuted in Bijnor’s Lukadri village on Tuesday. This is the second such case in as many weeks in the region.
Residents who knew the victim, who has been identified as Chetan Singh, said the man was on an electricity pole, trying to fix the power line when he got electrocuted to death.Anil Kumar, an acquaintance of the victim, said that the man hailed from a humble family and had started to learn the tricks of the trade of an electrician. “Initially, he would earn money by running a tea shop. Subsequently, he started to learn how to become an electrician,” Kumar said.
Top officials, including the SHO, circle officer and the ADM (Chandpur), reached the spot of the incident. ADM (Chandpur) Rakesh Yadav gave Chetan’s family a compensation of Rs 8 lakh. Station officer Najibabad Satyavir Singh said, “I am aware of the case but since it was an accident, nobody has come forward to register a case.”
This is the second such case where a man was electrocuted to death. On June 14, a high-tension fire fell on a sugarcane field, killing a farmer while he was at work. His 16-year-old daughter suffered severe burns as well. The sub-divisional magistrate has announced a compensation of Rs 8 lakh for the farmer’s family.
On June 11, a high-voltage current ran through domestic lines in Bharaira village on June 11, short-circuiting electronic equipment such as TVs, radios, refrigerators and washing machines in several households. In their pursuit to fix the problem, three women in the village sustained terrible burns. The women - Ramwati Devi, Kanta Devi and Rita Devi – were rushed to the hospital. Not just that, a buffalo died of electrocution as well.
Pashchimanchal Vidyut Vitran Limited (PVVL) managing director V V Pant told TOI, “We understand the risks and that is why we avoid passing high-tension wires over residential areas. However, residential areas have now expanded and now these wires pass over houses. If builders inform us about new settlements, we have no problem in changing the routes of these wires.”