Electricity wires dangle dangerously as officials turn a blind eye

JALANDHAR:Even after two major fire incidents reported of late in the Sheikhan Bazaar and Mitta Bazaar areas in the city, the authorities have failed to notice electricity wires dangling loosely in several streets of the market.

Electricity wires pose a risk to residents at Kadian Complex in Jalandhar. Tribune photo

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 4

Even after two major fire incidents reported of late in the Sheikhan Bazaar and Mitta Bazaar areas in the city, the authorities have failed to notice electricity wires dangling loosely in several streets of the market.

The wires, that are not only uncovered, but also hang overhead dangerously, have been posing a threat to the commuter and shopkeepers. Fire brigade officials also complain that the fire engines find it difficult

to enter these areas because of the dangling overhead wires.

The reason behind both the fire incidents, that broke out in two local shops, ostensibly was the short-circuit of wires.

Dangerously suspended electricity cables, mostly hanging just six feet above the streets, have put the lives of residents in danger. Sources revealed that many of the cable wires have been placed illegally, with locals taking advantage of confusing tangles to steal power from neighbours or commercial properties.

All the streets in the area have a similar outlook where even high voltage wires and cables dangle overhead. Earlier, these cables merely hung overhead but now some of them have been damaged and tend to touch the ground perilously, added Karanveer, a shopkeeper, pointing towards the loosely hanging wires.

Avtar Singh, a resident, said these dangling wires are a standing invitation to disasters. The authorities are aware of the danger but have turned a blind eye to the problem, he said. Also, these wires have never been covered or removed. The local residents demanded that the authorities take effective measures and rectify the problem to prevent any untoward incident.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has also ruled that preventing the sagging of electricity wires and electrocution was the responsibility of the authorities concerned and that failure to do so would amount to negligence.

Fire department official Satish Kumar said dangling wires was a main hurdle in fire tenders entering the narrow

and congested streets. Most of the time, the fire tenders have to be parked outside the streets and water supplied through pipes that delays the process of extinguishing the flames.

Chief Engineer, PSPCL, KPS Sekhon said the board was not aware of it but assured that the problem would be fixed shortly. He also stated that the wires would be replaced and rearranged under the Smart City project.