‘Number of power accidents up in state’

LUCKNOW: The number of electricity accidents has gone up in Uttar Pradesh despite claims of network modernisation.

As many as 958 people died in 1824 power accidents during 2016-17, according to the electricity safety directorate’s report sent to the Central Electricity Authority of India (CEA) a few days ago.

The number of accidents and deaths is the highest in recent years. In 2015-16, 723 people died in 1352 cases of electricity accidents. In 2014-15, 629 people died in 1185 power accidents. In 2013-14, 611 deaths were reported in 1204 accidents. As many as 570 deaths were reported in 1048 accidents in 2012-13.

“The year 2016-17 witnessed a record number of electricity deaths and accidents, which is a matter of grave concern,” UP Rajya Vidyut Upbhokta Parishad president Awadhesh Kumar Verma said.

He met UP Electricity Regulatory Commission chairman SK Agrawal on Monday, demanding directions to the discoms to take effective steps to control the increasing number of electricity accidents in the state when so much money was being spent on strengthening the electricity system.

The UP Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) has, in the meantime, begun preparations to deal with the summer power crisis.

Alok Kumar, the corporation’s chairman, held a meeting with officials at the Shakti Bhawan here on Monday, asking them to take necessary steps in advance to ensure people did not suffer due to overloading of the system.

He said there was a target of making 23 transmission substations functional by March to improve power supply in the state.