Naked wires during monsoon pose danger to city residents' lives

 Death lurks in every nook and corner for residents of Delhi with loose cables and snapped high-voltage wires dangling precariously. Two electrocution deaths within a week during monsoon in the national capital proves this.

“We live in constant fear as a common man’s life is of no value. Every monsoon, electrocution deaths are waiting to happen. The discom companies and the civic authorities have failed miserably in protecting people. Their lackadaisical approach towards safety is costing innocent lives,” sys Surinder Singh who lost his brother Vinod.

Electrocution

Vinod, 35, was electrocuted on Wednesday when a rod he was holding accidentally touched the low-lying high-tension wire on the terrace. “There is no proper earthing in the area and the civic authorities keep delaying the matter. Government too turns a deaf ear to our complaints,” said Anil Bajpai of Residents Welfare Association Federation, east Delhi.

“We have sent letters to Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) but in vain. We
have requested Delhi’s new Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung for an appointment to discuss civic issues,” he said.

Not just Vinod, 32-year-old documentary filmmaker Anand Bhaskar Morla died in south Delhi’s Green Park Market after his car door brushed against an iron gate that was in contact with a live wire, placed negligently on a jewellery shop’s railings.

“Power thefts, illegal constructions and encroachments of discom infrastructure are three main reasons for electrocution during monsoon in Delhi,” said a discom official.

“On a regular basis, discoms remove large quantities of illegal wires from overhead systems and yet unscrupulous elements indulge in power thefts and puncture the overhead electricity cables,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the civic authorities have passed the buck on to the Delhi government. “Government is hand in glove with power companies, and not doing anything. The unplanned constructions are also to be blamed, so it is both the callous attitude of government and ignorance of people,” said Mahender Nagpal, leader of the House in the North Corporation.