Ghazipur. The negligence of the electricity department officials took the life of an unskilled contract worker. The worker whose job was to just hold the ladder or provide any other help was made to climb the electric pole to fix the fault. Meanwhile, despite the shutdown, power supply was started from the power substation. The worker who climbed the pole got burnt to death by the current. The body remained stuck to the wire for six hours.
The people who were angry with this incident that happened on Sunday night blocked the road and demanded action against the guilty officials. Taking cognizance of the incident on Monday, Energy Minister AK Sharma took action.
SSO (contract worker) Awadhesh Pal of the power substation Karimuddinpur has been dismissed and his service has been terminated. JE Ashok Kumar and Subdivision Officer (SDO) Dilip Sahu have been suspended. A charge sheet has been issued to Executive Engineer Ashish Kumar.
Devendra Rai, a resident of Bharouli Kala village of Karimuddinpur, was an unskilled contract worker at the local substation for many years. On Sunday, on receiving information about a fault in the eastern area of Lattudih village, the officials took a shutdown from the power house and made Devendra climb the pole to fix the fault. Meanwhile, power supply was suddenly started in the high tension line. Devendra died on the spot after being hit by the current.
The villagers blocked the Ghazipur-Ballia road. On the complaint of Devendra Rai’s elder son Ashish Rai, the police have registered a case of culpable homicide against SSO Awadhesh Pal. The SSO is absconding since the incident.
Taking cognizance of the incident, Energy Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma has expressed condolences on his ex. He has assured all possible help to the victim’s family. In-charge Superintending Engineer and Executive Engineer Saidpur Brijesh Kumar said that action has been taken against the officers and employees responsible for the incident.
Vidyut Mazdoor Panchayat raised the demand for high level investigation
The officials of Vidyut Mazdoor Panchayat held a meeting in Sangathan Bhawan Lal Darwaza and demanded a high level investigation of the incident, pleading for justice to the deceased contract worker. During this, tribute was paid by observing two minutes of silence. Divisional President Arvind Srivastava said that unskilled contract worker Awadhesh Pal was being made to do the work of sub-station operator at Karimuddinpur sub-station.
Why was the work of skilled contract worker Awadhesh Pal being made to do the work of sub-station operator. Whereas unskilled contract worker does not have any information about sub-station operator. This work can be done only by skilled contract worker. This is the reason why this incident happened.
It was said in the meeting that the deceased contract worker Devendra Rai alias Munna Rai was also an unskilled contract worker, the work of climbing the pole and making the line is the work of skilled contract worker, then under what circumstances Upendra Rai alias Munna Rai was killed by giving shutdown and making him climb the pole.
The organization has demanded a high level investigation of the entire incident and strict action against the guilty engineers.
Demanded 10 lakh compensation from the department to the family of the deceased contract worker, pension to his wife and job to his dependent.
If departmental sources are to be believed, MD Power Corporation Lucknow has clearly ordered that if any accident occurs in an electrical accident, then the Executive Engineer will be held fully responsible. Suspension action has been taken against the junior engineer and SDO and an attempt is being made to hush up the matter by merely giving a charge sheet against the Executive Engineer.
