VALPOI
According to reports, the incident took place as Sunita Naik (41) of Nipani-Maharashtra and Rani Naik (53) of Halkarni-Maharashtra had gone to the sugarcane plantation, owned by Krishnaprasad Gadgil. They had been employed at the plantation since the last two years.
As they entered the plantation, both workers were unaware at that a live 11 KV electricity wire had snapped and was dangling in the thick plantation. They accidentally came in contact with the live wire and were electrocuted.
The
incident came to light only when some linemen were combing the site to identify the power failure in the area.
The linemen then notified the department officials and the matter was reported to the Valpoi police. A police team and electricity department officials went to the site and a panchanama was conducted, before the bodies were sent for an autopsy at the GMC.
Speaking to The Goan, locals blamed the electricity department for failing to replace the old electricity line in the area.
"This tragedy took place only because the electricity line was very old and prone to breakage. During the rainy season, people from Advoi, Khodye and Vante in Bhirondem were unhappy over frequent power failures due to the old electricity wire, which was prone to breakage," said Bhironda Sarpanch Nitin Shivedekar.
The farm owner, Krishnaprasad Gadgil, said a complaint had been lodge with the Valpoi electricity office regarding the same electricity wire, but added that nothing had been done in the matter. "The two workers had gone to light fire crackers to scare away wild animals, but unfortunately met with this terrible accident and lost their lives," Gadgil said.
When contacted, Bicholim Electricity EE A P John said the department had taken serious note of the incident at Khodye. "All electricity lines passing through the locality will be inspected thoroughly and repairs will be undertaken shortly," said John.
The Chief Electrical Engineer Nilkanth Reddy, however, did not accept the allegation that the two workers had died only due to electrocution. "It cannot be said that the accident had taken place only because of electricity wire. In fact, all the conductors had been changed only a few days earlier. We need to ascertain the reason why the live wire got ruptured from the pole," said Reddy. Meanwhile, government has ordered an inquiry into the incident and has sought a report from electricity officials.
The linemen then notified the department officials and the matter was reported to the Valpoi police. A police team and electricity department officials went to the site and a panchanama was conducted, before the bodies were sent for an autopsy at the GMC.
Speaking to The Goan, locals blamed the electricity department for failing to replace the old electricity line in the area.
"This tragedy took place only because the electricity line was very old and prone to breakage. During the rainy season, people from Advoi, Khodye and Vante in Bhirondem were unhappy over frequent power failures due to the old electricity wire, which was prone to breakage," said Bhironda Sarpanch Nitin Shivedekar.
The farm owner, Krishnaprasad Gadgil, said a complaint had been lodge with the Valpoi electricity office regarding the same electricity wire, but added that nothing had been done in the matter. "The two workers had gone to light fire crackers to scare away wild animals, but unfortunately met with this terrible accident and lost their lives," Gadgil said.
When contacted, Bicholim Electricity EE A P John said the department had taken serious note of the incident at Khodye. "All electricity lines passing through the locality will be inspected thoroughly and repairs will be undertaken shortly," said John.
The Chief Electrical Engineer Nilkanth Reddy, however, did not accept the allegation that the two workers had died only due to electrocution. "It cannot be said that the accident had taken place only because of electricity wire. In fact, all the conductors had been changed only a few days earlier. We need to ascertain the reason why the live wire got ruptured from the pole," said Reddy. Meanwhile, government has ordered an inquiry into the incident and has sought a report from electricity officials.
