In the danger zone, sans safety gear

GORAKHPUR: For contractual worker Dharamveer, 35, it was work as usual— repairing fault on an 11000kv electricity pole sans safety gear— when the power supply was restored suddenly.

Dharamveer was instantly electrocuted and his charred body hung from the pole for 3 hours before it was brought down on Thursday.

In the last eight months, six such contractual workers have been electrocuted while repairing faults as they were not given any safety tools, the use of which minimise chances of accidents.

Like Dharamveer all others were also repairing faults without safety gloves, safety belt and other mandatory safety tools, which under agreement the contractors

have to provide contractual workers.

Recalling the incident, a co-worker said, “When he (Dharamveer) climbed the ladder to repair the fault, the power supply was restored suddenly from Khorabar sub-station leaving him dead. Had he been given safety gloves and equipments, his life could have been saved.

Those who died earlier was also due to lack of proper safety equipments.”

Despite such repeated accidents, life goes on as usual for the 270 contractual workers in Gorakhpur and around 200 of them in rural areas of the zone for merely ₹8500 to ₹10,000 per month of which almost ₹3000 to ₹4000 is taken by the contractor as ‘commission’ for getting them work. Meanwhile, when questioned chief engineer AK Singh said it was the responsibility of contractors to provide safety tools to workers.

“In Dharamveer’s case an FIR has been lodged against the Khorabar sub-station officer Rahul Sharma by the power department. He will also lose his job. In many cases it is seen that workers too are negligent and in using safety tools. To avoid recurrence of such incidents we will organise a safety workshop for contractual workers.”

IN LAST EIGHT MONTHS, SIX WORKERS HAVE BEEN ELECTROCUTED WHILE REPAIRING AS THEY WERE NOT GIVEN SAFETY TOOLS