Visakhapatnam: Discom fined for boy's electrocution

Visakhapatnam: The Vizianagaram district consumer disputes rederessal forum has directed the CMD and other officials of  Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL)  to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation besides a litigation cost of Rs 6,000 to the family of an 8-year-old student, who died due to electrocution. Gottapu Lokesh, a class-III student, died on June 4, 2015, after being electrocuted by an exposed wire while he was playing. APEPDCL has come under criticism for not properly maintaining the electrical lines in parts of Vizianagaram district and it was the second time that the Discom was directed to pay compensation to the families of victims for their gross negligence.

Lokesh of Arikathota under Ramabhadrapuram police station limits in Vizianagaram district was electrocuted on June 4, 2015 at around 5.30 pm when he was playing along with two more children on the building of Ramesh. Lokesh came in contact with a low-hanging live electrical wire which was passing at a low level on the building of Ramesh and he received severe injuries and fell down and died on the spot.

Based on the complaint from Lokesh’s parents G. Srinivasa Rao and G. Lakshmi, the Ramabhadrapuram police registered a case under Section 174 of CrPC. Lokesh’s parents approached Consumer Disputes Rederessal Forum for the negligence of APEPDCL citing that they were deprived of Lokesh’s love and also future support. Advocate K. Venugopal upheld Lokesh’s parents complaint against management of APEPDCL and filed a petition seeking relief to direct the APEPDLC to pay Rs 5 lakh with 12 per cent interest towards compensation. However, the APEPDCL filed a counter that there was no negligence from their part and Lokesh had deliberately caught hold of the hanging wires.

Vizianagaram District Consumer Disputes Rederessal Forum led by president T. Srirama Murthy and member K. Sivarama Krishna held that APEPDCL was liable to pay compensation after a detailed investigation revealed that the Discom’s negligence has led to death of the child Lokesh. The forum has asked the discom to pay Rs 3 lakh as compensation to Lokesh’s family besides Rs 6,000 as a litigation cost by April 10, 2017.