PANAJI
The Electricity Department which has come under fire again after one of their linesman, Chandru Gaonkar, died of electrocution while working on a transformer at Postwada, Honda in Sattari during 'routine maintenance' has said it is investigating the circumstances of it.
Another linesman has also suffered serious injuries and is shifted to a hospital where he is being treated.
The incident has brought the electricity department back in the line of fire vis-a-vis the precarious issue of safety of its workmen nearly a year after another linesman, Manoj Zambaulikar, died of electrocution in Bicholim while working on a transmission line despite a shutdown having been arranged at the time.
Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) Stephen Fernandes had explained Zambaulikar's electrocution as being caused by 'back field' power reverse-transmitted from the inverter of a nearby establishment 'Fitness Factory'.
The backfield power charged the neutral wire (earthing) which eventually electrocuted the Zambaulikar.
Fernandes meanwhile has launched an investigation into Tuesday's episode which cost the department the life of lineman Chandru Gaonkar.
Since 2018, dozens of Electricity Department employees, mostly linesmen and line-helpers, have suffered injuries in such mishaps -- either accidentally coming in contact with live conductors or in some cases due to unexpected leakage of power.
Ten staffers died in those incidents, six of them in 2023 alone. One -- Sandeep S Kerkar of Madhalawada, Advalpal -- lost his right hand which was amputated. He was paid Rs 7 lakh as ex-gratia and assigned work at Bicholim sub-station which involves only to attend to phone calls.
