Inquiry into painter’s electrocution remains unresolved 6 months later

Exactly six months later, the findings of the inquiry still remain unknown. An inquiry into the electrocution incident was conducted by a senior power officer, but the findings are still under wraps. Even power officials at the Aquem Power House say they have no idea about the findings of the inquiry, let alone placing the report in the public domain.

This has only thrown up a host of questions about who was responsible for the painter’s death and if the department is to be blamed for the incident, whether any compensation has been paid to the near and dear ones of the deceased.

The painter, a native of West Bengal, was electrocuted to death while he was executing the job of painting a four-pole electrical structure for a 33KV feeder at Dicarpale. The work was undertaken by the painter after the Electricity Department had arranged a shutdown to execute the work. So far, mystery continues as to how the painter was electrocuted to death when there was a shutdown and the person or persons responsible for switching on the line when the painter was on the job.

While the findings of the inquiry conducted by a senior power official are still not made public, the fate of the police inquiry into the incident also remains unknown. The findings of the inquiry into the electrocution incident were important, more so to find out how the line got charged when a shutdown was taken to execute the painting work.

Incidentally, the fate of the inquiry into the electrocution of a rag picker at Malbhat a year ago after he came into contact with advertisement boards at a shopping complex also remains unknown.