SHILLONG: A series of deaths from electrocution has compelled the state human rights panel to pull up the Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation Limited (MePTCL) for not taking corrective steps.
Commenting on the tragic electrocution of five workers in North Garo Hills in July and other similar cases in the past, the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission said the tragedy has once again put the state’s power corporation in the dock for their poor services when it comes to safeguarding people’s lives.
“The MePTCL is tasked with the maintenance and supervision of the high power transmission lines which pass through the region towards the sub-stations which supply power to the rest of Garo Hills and the state,” the commission said.
The 11 KV high Agia-Mendipathar transmission line, which caused the death of five persons in July, was supposed to have been regularly checked and maintained by the MePTCL engineers and staff.
“Executive engineers deputed at the site were supposed to inspect the lines and inform the main office of any shortcomings. Clearly, they failed in their duties leading to such a colossal loss of human lives,” the commission said.
More cases
This is not the first instance of innocent lives being lost in Garo Hills due to electrocution. Two years ago, a couple returning from a bath in a nearby stream in Purakhasia died due to electrocution when they accidently touched a live wire on the side of the road.
Prior to this, a boy had both his arms amputated in Chasingre area near Tura after he touched a live wire allegedly lying next to a power transformer that had not been barricaded by the power department staff.
A few years ago, a missionary nun in Garo Hills died from electrocution when she opened a refrigerator that had live power passing through it from a transmission line that had touched the domestic line outside, the commission said.
According to the commission, the media reports had revealed negligence by and callousness of MePTCL.
“It is really shocking that due to the alleged poor services of the department concerned, the poor innocent labourers had lost their precious life and became victims for no fault of theirs,” the commission said.
