Mawphlang electrocution tragedy

SHILLONG: The eldest sister of the 35-year-old woman, who along with her five children died from electrocution in Mawphlang on October 27, said on Thursday that her late sister had twice complained to the authorities concerned about sparks from the meter box but nothing was done.
Speaking to reporters during a candlelight vigil organised by Batesi TV and the Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) on Thursday to show solidarity with the victims, Ailoris Shangpliang said, “My sister (late Trisdalin Shangpliang) had complained about the sparks and asked the authorities to rectify the fault in the meter box or disconnect power supply.”
Meanwhile, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing questioned the validity of the Power Minister’s claim that the accident at Nongthymmai Neng was caused by bursting of the lightning arrester. She also wondered whether “the lightning had stolen all fuses” of the meter boxes in the area.
“Are they (MeECL authorities) connecting the transformers the same way as they do in urban areas,” she asked.
When asked about the Rs 1-lakh compensation to each of the victim’s family members, Kharshiing said, “It is like an insult. The officials can buy cars worth Rs 23 lakh and the government spends crores of rupees on concerts and shows. It shows that the government does not care about women and children.”
She demanded proper fencing of transformers in rural areas, appointment of regular linesmen and that engineers should provide residents correct information about the condition of the transformers. “According to what was told, there was a sudden high voltage that should have tripped had the fuse been in place,” she added.