Central team inspects site of electrocution in Chandigarh's Sector 8

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Chandigarh, July 29

A two-member team of technical experts from the Central Electricity Authority, Delhi, today inspected the spot where a 17-year-old boy was electrocuted in Sector 8 here on July 17.

Sources said the team would take a day or two to submit the report to the UT Administration after getting approval from their authorities. The victim, Mayank of Sector 7, was the son of the Deputy Director in Enforcement Directorate here. While crossing the railings next to a transformer, he came into contact with it and was electrocuted.

On the directions of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit, Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh had on July 19 ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tragic fatal incident. SDM (Central) Naveen was entrusted with the task to conduct and complete the magisterial inquiry in 10 days by associating technical experts in the field of power from Delhi.

Purohit had visited the site of the incident to assess the situation first-hand and instructed a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of death, identify any lapses by officials, and recommend necessary precautions to prevent such occurrences in the future.

The Administrator had expressed his displeasure at the uncovered and exposed fuses of the power transformers and instructed the Engineering Department to take immediate measures to ensure the safety of residents in vicinity of electric transformers and poles in Chandigarh to prevent cases of electrocution.

He emphasised the urgency for the electricity wing of the Engineering Department to secure or cover areas around transformers to prevent such incidents and mandated strict adherence to all safety regulations set by the Power Ministry.

Purohit had issued strict instructions to both the civil and police administrations to take stringent action against those found responsible for the boy’s death. He also called for fixing accountability within the department concerned.

An Executive Engineer and a Sub-Divisional Engineer were placed under suspension pending the inquiry.

July 17 incident

• A 17-year-old boy was crossing the railings next to a transformer in Sector 8 on July 17 when he came into contact with it and got electrocuted.
• The victim, Mayank of Sector 7, was the son of the Deputy Director in Enforcement Directorate.