VALPOI
A lineman attached to the Valpoi office of the power department got electrocuted while pruning trees at Kankire-Guleli on Wednesday morning.
The incident sparked off tension as relatives refused to claim the body till the electricity department conducted a probe into the death.
Sources said the incident took place as Sanjay Gaonkar, a resident of Gaonkarwada-Thane, had gone to Kankere as part of pre-monsoon work. He was pruning a tree which was touching an electricity wire when he came into contact with the live wire.
Gaonkar was rushed to the Valpoi Community Health Centre (CHC), but was declared dead on arrival.
Relatives rushed to the government on hearing the news and refused to take possession of the body, till a complete probe was conducted into his death.
The electricity department Assistant Engineer Deepak Gawas and the executive engineer rushed to the CHC and interacted with aggrieved relatives, before agreeing to give a written assurance to relatives regarding a probe in the matter.
The body was later moved to the GMC hospital for an autopsy.
Valpoi Police Inspector Prajyot Phadte said no complaint had been lodged at the police station so far and the police has registered an unnatural death in the matter.
Gaonkar had joined the electricity department as a lineman eight years ago and was described by colleagues as a person who was honest and diligent at his work.
When contacted, Assistant Engineer Deepak Gawas said the cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained and an inquiry is being conducted in the matter.
