Man tries to fix overhead wires, electrocuted

SNS, Kurseong, 22 September 2014: A farmer was electrocuted when he was himself trying to reconnect electricity supply to his house at Ghaletar in Sittong-I Gram Panchayat area under the Kurseong sub division last evening.

Talking to reporters at the Kurseong sub-divisional hospital, Mangal Mukhia, a relative of Puran Tamang, 39, said there was a power cut in the area since the 18 September thunderstorm. At least six houses in his locality were without electricity, he said, adding that they lodged several complaints with the electricity department, but in vain.

“No one from the department turned up to restore the electricity lines. We were fast running out of battery in our mobile phones, too. Finally, out of frustration, Puran Tamang decided that he would himself repair and reconnect the overhead electricity wires located just above his house. But as he was at it, he was electrocuted,” Mr Mukhia said.

Mr Tamang is survived by his mother, father, wife and two children.

Villagers are now seeking compensation from the department concerned, as they feel the accident occurred due to the negligence of the department. Mr Mukhia said they have lodged a complaint at the Kurseong police station and at the electricity department.

The body was handed over to the family after post-mortem at the Kurseong hospital today.

Electricity department officials could not be contacted for comment, despite several attempts.