Hyderabad, June 05: Two lives were snuffed out and one boy got critically injured in two power-related accidents in the operational limits of CPDCL Metro Zone in the city on Saturday.
In one incident, two contract labourers — Md.Ghouse (30) of Kishenbagh and Md.Baba (24) — of Bahadurpura got electrocuted while attending to a power supply problem in Attapur.
Both climbed on to a pole at about 11 a.m. to rectify a fault that occurred on Friday night. According to CPDCL authorities, they successfully connected two 11-KV jumper wires on the pole, and proceeded to the third one when the electrocution occurred. Ghouse died on the spot while Baba was shifted to the Care Hospital in Nampally with critical burns where he died later.
The discom officials could not pinpoint the reason for the sudden flow of power into the lines, which was reportedly not from the substation.
Ex gratia given
A departmental enquiry has been ordered into the incident, and both the workers have been given ex gratia as per the norms, Chief General Manager of the Metro Zone N.Sarat Chandra Seenu informed.
Incited with the twin deaths, CPDCL contractual labourers from the Old City went on a rampage. They damaged the furniture in the Divisional Engineer’s office behind Salar Jung Museum and attacked the substations in Khilwat, Salar Jung Museum, Panjesha, Malakpet, and Chanchalguda where they forcibly got the supply switched off.
In the second incident of the day, 11-year-old Vikas from Subhashnagar Colony of B.K.Guda in Balkampet received severe burns when he came into the induction range of the 33-KV lines passing very close to the house. He was immediately shifted to Gandhi Hospital.
Violation of norms
Apparently, the house was in close range of the high tension power lines in stark violation of vertical clearance norms. Power lines passing very close to the dwellings, has been a chronic problem in colonies of B.K. Guda. There have been many representations from the residents asking for shifting of conductors and poles. However, the CPDCL has been unyielding because many of these houses were constructed in utter violation of norms.
Sanathnagar MLA M. Shashidhar Reddy who visited the spot, asked the residents to be cautious and keep away from the power lines till they are ultimately shifted.
–Agencies