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Yamunanagar: Power Department Worker Dies After Electric Shock While Working on 11kV Pole
A worker engaged in electricity department-related work died after suffering an electric shock while working on an 11,000-volt power line pole in Ganouli village of the Chhachhrauli area of Yamunanagar district. The deceased has been identified as Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Ismailpur. He was the father of two children and had reportedly been working with the Chhachhrauli electricity department on a private contractual basis for around 12 years.
The incident has raised questions about safety procedures, power shutdown arrangements and the work-permit system followed before employees or contract workers are allowed to work on high-voltage electrical infrastructure. Chhachhrauli police have registered a case against contractor Rajbir on the basis of a complaint submitted by the deceased worker’s family.
Family alleges negligence»
According to the complaint submitted to police by Sanjeev’s father, Dharampal, Sanjeev was working with contractor Rajbir. On Thursday, Sanjeev, the contractor and Rohtash, a resident of Peermajra, had gone to Ganouli in connection with electricity department work.
After completing work at one location, the three reportedly proceeded to another spot near a dera situated in the fields. The family’s complaint states that before starting work at the second location, Sanjeev and Rohtash asked the contractor whether the electricity supply had been switched off and whether the required work permit had been obtained.
The complaint alleges that the contractor told them that the necessary permit was in place. Following this, Sanjeev climbed the pole carrying the 11,000-volt line to carry out the assigned work.
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Sudden current allegedly reached the line»
According to the family’s account, Sanjeev was working on the pole when the power line suddenly became energised. He reportedly received a strong electric shock and fell from the pole.
Rohtash and another person present at the site took Sanjeev to a private hospital for treatment. However, doctors declared him dead on arrival, according to the information provided by the family.
The incident has left the family facing the loss of a worker who had spent years associated with electricity-related work. Sanjeev was also the father of two children, making the circumstances of his death particularly significant for his dependants.
Family raises questions over delay in information»
Dharampal has also alleged that the family was not informed immediately after the incident. According to his complaint, the accident took place at around 5 p.m., but the family did not receive information about the incident at that time.
The family later came to know about the incident, reached the hospital and informed the police. The circumstances surrounding the communication of the incident and the time at which the family was informed will also form part of the broader factual assessment of the case.
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Police begin investigation»
Chhachhrauli police station in-charge Vedpal said that a case had been registered against contractor Rajbir on the basis of the complaint. Police are now examining the circumstances that led to Sanjeev being allowed to work on the high-voltage pole.
Investigators are specifically looking into whether the worker had been authorised to climb the pole, whether the required work permit had actually been obtained and whether the prescribed procedure for shutting down the electricity supply had been followed before the work began.
These questions are central to determining how the accident occurred and whether established safety procedures were followed. The police investigation will also have to establish the respective roles, if any, of the contractor and other persons associated with the work.
Why safety procedures matter in high-voltage work»
Work on high-voltage electricity infrastructure carries significant risks and normally requires strict coordination between the work team and the electricity supply system. Confirmation of shutdown, isolation of the relevant line, issuance of the required permit and verification of safety conditions are important components of electrical maintenance work.
The Ganouli incident has once again brought attention to the importance of ensuring that workers, particularly those engaged through contractual arrangements, are not exposed to electrical hazards without the necessary safety clearances and precautions.
For the family, however, the immediate concern is the loss of Sanjeev Kumar and the future of his two children. The investigation will determine the factual circumstances behind the incident and whether any safety or procedural violations contributed to the fatal accident.
Case registered, findings awaited»
At present, the allegations made by the family remain subject to police investigation. Registration of a case against the contractor does not by itself establish guilt. The responsibility of the concerned persons, if any, will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation and the findings of the competent authorities.
The police are expected to examine the work arrangements, power-supply status, permit-related records and statements of people present at the site as part of the investigation. Further developments in the case will clarify whether the required safety procedure was followed before Sanjeev was sent to work on the 11kV line.
Read more Yamunanagar, Haryana and public-interest news reports on Pen Of Democracy.
This report is based on the complaint submitted by the deceased worker’s family and statements attributed to the police. Allegations of negligence have been presented as allegations and should not be treated as established findings. Police investigation into the work permit, power shutdown and safety procedures is underway. The registration of a case does not by itself establish guilt, and the matter remains subject to investigation and due legal process.
