The looming threat of exposed live wires has claimed the lives of a young mother and her 9-year-old daughter in Bangalore. How safe is it to step outside?
- November 7, 2024
- Updated 12:39 pm
Live Wire Horror
- Chhaya Gupta
- November 24, 2023
- Cover Story
Last Sunday, a tragedy shocked Bangalore. The episode unfolded on an unassuming footpath at Hope Farm, Whitefield, where a young mother and her 9-months old daughter lost their lives in flames.
Having recently arrived in Bangalore from Tamil Nadu, 23-year-old Soundarya was making her way home at the break of dawn when an unnoticed live wire, the “unkempt” item of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom), electrocuted them to death.
The police promptly filed a case against Bescom under IPC Section 304A, thrusting the issue into the spotlight. Bescom found itself at the epicentre of a storm, bombarded with allegations of negligence. The tragic episode swiftly went viral on social media, prompting even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to take note of it.
As the news spread, it became painfully apparent that, even an hour post-tragedy, authorities had not arrived at the scene. There were also claims that the wire had snapped the previous night, adding another layer of dismay to an already distressing situation. The aftermath of this unsettling incident rippled through the city, stirring a collective sense of shock and concerns about the safety of its denizens.
The damage control
Taken to the task, Bescom went on a damage-control mode and suspended five of its employees for “dereliction of duties” and issued show-cause notice to two officers. “Following the directions of the Energy Minister, the General Manager of Admin and Human Resources of Bescom has suspended Assistant Executive Engineer of E-4 Sub-Division, Subramanya T; Assistant Engineer of E-4 Sub-Division, Chetan S; Junior Engineer of E-4 Sub Division Rajanna; Junior powerman Manjunath Revanna and Lineman Basavaraju for dereliction of duties and detailed investigation will be conducted in the matter,” the corporation issued a statement, saying.
As the government announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the bereaved family, simultaneously, some legislators directed criticism at Bescom. Central Bengaluru’s MP PC Mohan stressed the urgency for Bescom to implement preventive measures, while Bengaluru South Lok Sabha MP Tejasvi Surya, highlighting the company’s negligence, called for a joint review.
In an additional effort to mitigate the damage, Bescom issued another statement, this time elaborating on the incident and categorising it as a “non-departmental fatal electrical accident.” Amidst these developments, a blame game ensued between Bescom and BBMP on the issue. Shanthamallappa, the General Manager of Quality, Safety, and Standards at Bescom, passed the buck to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). He highlighted the importance of proper grounding for the snapped wire, suggesting that it could have prevented the incident.
While acknowledging the progress in moving numerous high-tension wires underground, he noted the ongoing construction of an underpass at Hope Farm Junction by BBMP and indicated that Bescom awaits its blueprint to plan the relocation of the remaining wires. Later, a “deeper” investigation revealed rodents as the primary culprits, damaging wires at a nearby transformer site and causing the tripping of the feeder line. The absence of earthing for the live wire compounded the tragedy, leading to the unfortunate incident, last updates said.
On dangerous grounds
This is not the first instance of Bangalore bearing witness to such an untimely tragedy. Bescom data lays bare a distressing surge in electrocution incidents on the city’s thoroughfares in recent years. Disturbing figures spanning from 2015-2016 to 2022-2023 starkly outline a toll of over 720 lives lost to electrocution, sounding a clarion call for immediate and earnest attention. These alarming statistics follow a series of tragic events, each screaming for detailed safety measures. Earlier in August, a 21-year old Christ University student suffered severe burns when a live electric wire fell on her at Venkateshwara Layout. In April 2022, a 22-year-old lost his life in a fatal encounter with a cable wire while navigating a pavement.
Again in September 2022, a 23-year-old girl succumbed to electrocution after slipping on a flooded road, compelling her father to initiate legal action against both Bescom and BBMP. In response to this burgeoning crisis, Energy Minister KJ George and Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta issued stern warnings to OFC cable operators, underscoring their pivotal role in ensuring public safety.
Unfortunately, these directives have, regrettably, failed to yield significant results, as proved by the death of 23-year-old Sound[1]arya and her daughter, Leela.
As Bescom found itself in the crosshairs of public anger, accused of negligence in the tragic episode, a sequence of unfolding events captured the city’s attention.
The conditions with electric wires are deplorable. Recall the incident last year during a heavy downpour; a young girl tragically lost her life due to electrocution. Is this the standard we expect from a city that is one of the chief contributors to the country’s GDP?
MALINI, Talent Acquisition Head from Ejipura
The government must guarantee the safety of residents. My question to the authorities is this – Is it that difficult to enforce basic safety measures? Just observe the state of the city — lack of proper footpaths and unprotected electrical wires dangling everywhere. Let alone in the night; it’s a nightmare to walk in the day. Do the lives of voters hold no value? I am dismayed this lax attitude.
SUBHASH GOWDA, Finance Manager from Kammanahalli
It was the other day; my younger brother shared a worrying experience. While waiting at the Shanthinagar Bus Stand, a large tree branch unexpectedly fell with tangled wires. The following day, upon returning to the bus stand, he found them the way they were yesterday; no action was taken. It’s puzzling how authorities neglect to address such issues, even after a 24-hour lapse.
JENCY KURIAN, Business Development Executive from Wilson Garden
Consider the extent of power cuts in our city; every rain brings about a blackout, with transformers often bursting in localities. Unprotected electrical wires are everywhere; at times, upon manholes and footpaths. All the authorities do, is issue a meagre ex-gratia amount after a tragedy, as if that’s the value of a life. And then, the issue fades into silence. Are we paying taxes to put our lives at risk every time we step outside?
SANATH JAIN, Data Architect from Marathahalli
I vividly recall the incident near Trinity Circle Metro Station when a high-tension wire snapped from one end of a pole and almost brushed past me. I called up the nearby traffic police, who, in turn, alerted Bescom. The following day, relieved to find everything seemingly back to normal, I encountered the same police personnel from the day before. Inquiring about the incident, he revealed it took over three hours for Bescom to respond. Such lethargy is deeply concerning.
SAYAK ADHIKARI, Professional Services Manager from BTM Layout