Four electrocuted in Hyderabad within a week, civic preparedness question

Four people have died of electrocution in Hyderabad within a week, exposing lapses in civic and power department preparedness as the monsoon sets in. On Saturday, a father and daughter were killed at Alwal while clearing tree branches that had fallen on their car, after coming into contact with a live wire.

Hyderabad: Monsoon this season commenced on a tragic note claiming the lives of a father and daughter from electrocution at Alwal on Saturday, and taking the toll from electrocution this week to four in Hyderabad.

In what is being construed as administrative apathy in ensuring the safety of citizens and exposing the lack of monsoon preparedness, the father and daughter were electrocuted when they were clearing tree branches that fell on their car due to heavy rains the previous night.

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According to the police, Sandeep (45) a private employee and his daughter Rithika (16), came out of the house after the rains stopped on Saturday morning. Along with other family members, they were clearing tree branches that fell on the car when they came in contact with a live wire and collapsed on the ground, said Alwal Inspector, A Prashanth.

Soon after the police arrived and summoned 108 ambulance service, the paramedics examined and pronounced the victims dead. The officials of the power department too arrived and conducted an inspection.

Incidentally, four days ago two young men, Jaffar and Afroz, were electrocuted at Bandlaguda in the old city after they stepped on the live wires after getting down from an auto rickshaw.

The deaths of four people due to electrocution within a week have sparked serious concerns among the citizens over electrical safety and the preparedness of civic and power authorities ahead of the monsoon season in Hyderabad.

The latest incident has once again brought into focus the vulnerability of the city’s power infrastructure during the rainy season. “There is always a danger due to snapped wires, overgrown tree branches near power lines. Inadequate maintenance continues to pose a serious threat despite repeated warnings and past incidents,” complained S Prashanth, an IT employee from Telecom Colony, Alwal.

“As the monsoon set in, four deaths had occurred. Now, one has to think twice before stepping out during the rains as there is no accountability from the electricity department,” said SQ Masood, a social worker.

Call TGSPDCL helpline 1912

As the electrocution deaths mount in Hyderabad, power supply officials have urged people to be extremely vigilant during natural calamities, severe storms and heavy rains.

They have urged the citizens to call the TGSPDCL helpline 1912 if they notice any snapped electrical wires, fallen electric poles or other hazardous electrical situations. Authorities have also appealed to people not to attempt to touch, remove or repair electrical wires or other electrical equipment on their own. Such actions can lead to fatal accidents, the TGSPDCL cautioned.