Biker rams into transformer on VIP Road in Zirakpur, electrocuted

Zirakpur, July 31

A 28-year-old shopkeeper, the only son of his parents, was electrocuted near the Maya Garden-3 housing society on VIP Road during the rain last night. The deceased, Girish Goel, was returning home on his bike when he hit a pothole and crashed into a transformer alongside the road. When passers-by rescued him, current was still flowing through him.

Local residents alleged that they requested officials of the Electricity Department to reach the spot and shut down the power supply, but no one turned up. Eyewitnesses said the barefoot victim remained lying near the transformer for a while before the passers-by shifted him to the hospital.

QUESTION

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Crumbling infrastructure in Zirakpur claimed a man’s life, who was electrocuted on a potholed road. What steps should the administration take to improve the situation and prevent such incidents in future?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com

The doctors declared him dead on arrival. Resentment prevailed among the traders’ community and the local residents, who staged a protest today. They raised slogans against the administration and demanded that an FIR be lodged in the case.

A resident of Maya Garden-3, Ritu, said, “The road has been lying damaged for the past three months. Despite reminders to the MC, no one turned up to repair it. Maids working in the society complained there was current flowing in waterlogged streets.”

Zirakpur SHO Deepinder Singh Brar said, “The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem.”

Protesters block road

Residents of Maya Garden City Society and others blocked the road by placing the body in an ambulance at the Domino’s Square. The Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, MC officials and the PSPCL SDO reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. The officials assured the protesters that the road would be repaired and the electricity cables secured properly.

The protesters showed the officials potholes, waterlogged areas and leaking sewerage lines and sought an early resolution of all these problems.

Officials promise quick action

I have asked for a report in three days to find out which department is at fault. — Kuldeep Singh, Dera Bassi Tehsildar

It is a very unfortunate incident. The PSPCL will fix the loose cables within a week. — HS Oberoi, Executive Engineer