New Delhi, 23 December (HS): The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu on the death of two workers due to electric shock in Trichy and has sought a response within two weeks.The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report which stated that on December 18, two persons working as contract labourers with Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) died due to electric shock while repairing a high tension overhead power line near Olaiyur Ring Road in KK Nagar, Trichy, Tamil Nadu. The Commission has found that the information in the media report, if true, reflects gross negligence on the part of the Electricity Department which resulted in the death of two workers. The Commission has also said that such incidents have happened in the state earlier also.

The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu and sought a detailed report in the matter within two weeks. It is hoped that the report will include details about the status of the First Information Report (FIR) lodged in connection with the incident and the compensation (if any) paid to the families of the two victims. The Commission has also sought information on the steps taken and proposed by the State Government and Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) to prevent recurrence of such incidents. According to preliminary investigations, the power supply to the cable was not completely switched off during the repair work. The workers were working without protective equipment. In a similar incident in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu last year, a worker died of electrocution while repairing a transformer. Last month, during Cyclone Fangel, a migrant worker also died of electrocution and his body was found near an ATM in Muthialpet.

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar