Bescom lineman electrocuted while attending to problem

Bescom lineman electrocuted while attending to problem

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 14, 2019: A 45-year-old lineman of Bescom died of electrocution while attending to a complaint at Thanisandra on Sunday morning. The incident took place around 10.30 a.m. Based on a complaint by his family, the police have taken up a case against Bescom officials for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

The deceased has been identified as Murali, a resident of Banaswadi. He had been a lineman with Bescom for 10 years. According to the police, Murali went to attend to a problem along with junior engineer Chandrashekar, the driver of their vehicle and another lineman .

“Murali climbed an electric pole to check the line. He was about to finish the work when he was electrocuted. He was on top of the electric pole,” a police officer said.

An initial probe revealed that the Bescom office at Thanisandra had switched off power for an inspection. “However, we suspect that someone switched on the power before Murali could climb down. No safety measures were taken nor was Murali given any safety gear,” the police officer added.

The police have registered a case under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code against Bescom officials, and are questioning the staff, including those who were at the spot, to ascertain how this could have happened.

This is the second incident of a lineman being electrocuted while on duty. In June, 24-year-old Puneeth Kumar was electrocuted while repairing a pole at Neraleghatta village in Doddaballapur .

Puneeth had accompanied senior linemen Nagaraj and Chandrashekhar to attend to a complaint. While he was climbing a pole, he lost his balance, probably after receiving a shock. He fell on live wires and lost his life. His family members, in their complaint to the police, alleged that he was not provided adequate safety gear.

Courtesy:The hindu