Compensate electrocution victims: GH pressure groups tell MeECL

TURA: The A’chik Youth Council (AYC) and the GSU have demanded the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) to provide compensation to victims of electrocution in Garo Hills. The AYC along with the GSU interim body met Additional Chief Executive Engineer of the MeECL (WZ), N Hajong on Friday to remind him of several cases of electrocution that had taken place in the past and urged him to do the needful.
It may be mentioned that two cases of fatal electrocution had taken place in the recent past. On one occasion, a young couple from Purakhasia village and their unborn baby were electrocuted when they stepped on a fallen power line while they were returning home from fishing.
In another incident, a truck handyman from Darugre Rongjeng died when he came into contact with a live wire at Siju in South Garo Hills last year.
The most recent case was in April this year when one Migresh Sangma was electrocuted at Rong-binggre village in East Garo Hills when he came into contact with a low lying power line. Sangma, who survived the electrocution, is still undergoing treatment for his burn injuries at the Tura Civil Hospital.
Apart from demanding compensation for the victims and their families, the two pressure groups also raised the issue of poor maintenance of power lines by the MeECL with the official.