Karnataka Lokayukta police wing probing the Bangalore Electrical energy Provide Firm Restricted (Bescom) electrocution case that killed a girl and a nine-month-old daughter on November 19, stated in its report that Bescom was knowledgeable in regards to the unattended reside wire. An hour earlier than the tragedy occurred, the negligence of officers led to the tragedy.
The ten-page report was submitted to Karnataka Lokayukta Justice of the Peace BS Patil who took suo motu cognizance of the case.
Based on officers, Bescom’s declare that rodents had been answerable for tripping two 11kV strains resulting in the weak spot is “unfounded”.
Mahantesh Belaji, managing director of Bescom, had claimed that {an electrical} brief circuit attributable to a rodent was the rationale behind the accident that claimed the lives of the 2 individuals.
A Lokayukta officer stated, “The tragedy that led to the loss of life of the lady and her youngster was as a consequence of negligence on the a part of Bescom. Throughout investigation, it got here to mild that the general public had knowledgeable Bescom’s name heart about an unattended reside wire. Nevertheless, no firm official responded Bescom instantly. If officers had responded in any respect, the tragedy might have been prevented. This dereliction of obligation is what brought about the electrocution. The declare that rats brought about the tripping can also be false.
The officer additionally added that three Bescom engineers had been answerable for the accident.
As a part of the automated proceedings, Bescom will likely be given a possibility to answer the Lokayukta report and supply its feedback. Accordingly, the Lokayukta will concern a collection of suggestions to the state authorities with a view to mitigate such incidents sooner or later.
At round 6 am on November 19, the lady Soundarya along with her daughter in her arms stepped on a cable that had fallen on the highway whereas strolling on a footpath close to Hope Farm junction in Kadugodi and was electrocuted. Later, officers stated an condo’s standalone distribution transformer close to Hope Farm Junction shorted as a consequence of a rodent, inflicting the conductor to interrupt.
In the meantime, Bescom, after the incident, has suspended 5 officers from its energy provide division — govt assistant engineer Subramanya T, assistant engineer Chetan S, junior engineer Rajanna, junior employee Manjunath Revanna and lineman Basavaraju — on costs of negligence.
Power Minister KJ George additionally stated that 4 impartial investigations will likely be performed to find out the reason for the accident. George stated the outcomes of those reviews will likely be used to forestall such incidents in addition to provoke motion towards these accountable.