Woman electrocuted, son hurt as power cable snaps in Red Hills

The deceased, R Kaveri of Harichandran Koil Street in Bhavani Nagar, was the wife of Rajavel, who is into paddy business. The injured – Surya Prakash (9) and Padmavathy (62) – have been admitted at Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.

Surya Prakash and his brother Rithesh (7) are Class 4 and Class 2 students of a private school at MA Nagar in Red Hills. The incident happened around 8 am when they were outside their house with Kaveri and grandmother Padmavathy waiting for the school bus.

As there were standing there, a power cable snapped from the electric pole and fell on Kaveri. She collapsed after being electrocuting. Surya Prakash and Padmavathy tried to rescue her, but suffered injuries.

Their neighbours immediately alerted Tangedco and the power supply to the locality was suspended. All three were rushed to Padianallur Government Hospital in a 108 ambulance, but Kaveri was declared brought dead. The other two were transferred to Stanley Hospital.

After the news about the death spread, residents from the locality gathered in large numbers and staged a protest blaming Tangedco. They blocked traffic at Red Hills-Sothupakkam junction and on Kolkata highway.

On information, Puzhal Assistant Commissioner Ravi, inspectors and Tangedco officials rushed to the spot and held talks with the protesters. Based on their promise that all the power cables and poles would be re-laid, the protesters dispersed. Puzhal police have registered a case about the accident and initiated an inquiry.

A Tangedco official said that it was the accidental snapping of the conductor that led to the incident. “The damaged insulators have led to the snapping of the conductor,” the official said, adding that the reason for how the insulator got damaged is yet to be ascertained. As part of the monsoon preparedness works, the stability of overhead cables was checked. “We will carry out an inspection of overhead lines in the locality again,” the official said.

A 67-year-old man was electrocuted in Tondiarpet on Tuesday morning. The deceased, Durai alias Munusamy, switched on the borewell motor when he suffered an electric shock. Hearing his cries for help, neighbours rushed him to Government Stanley Medical College Hospital but he was declared brought dead. RK Nagar police have registered a case and further investigation is on.