Watch wires when it rains

Alappuzha: The KSEB authorities have failed to raise public awareness against chances of electrocution during rains.

On Tuesday, Ramakrishna Kurup, 74, an ex-serviceman from Mararikulam, died after contacting a live wire.

Earlier students were trained to explain the advantage of the earth-leakage circuit breaker (ELCB) at homes and other precautions. 

This year there's no such initiative ahead of monsoon setting in over Kerala.
An official at KSEB blamed lack of advanced systems for the increasing accidents linked to snapped lines.

In the rural areas, they still use low guarantee aluminium conductors, and the cables go overhead.

He suggests aluminium conductor steel-reinforced cable (ACSR) across the state to prevent snapping. 

Presently the only precaution is to alert nearest KSEBL office of broken wire anywhere. 

People can contact emergency numbers such as 1912 and 9496 061 061.
Removing advertisement boards and illegal cables from posts is essential. 

The construction works without stipulated distance from electric posts should be banned. People should not use electric posts for setting up clotheslines either.
Kalavoor residents say snapping of cables is not uncommon there these days as most posts are old and damaged.

But the KSEBL is not replacing them."They should replace damaged cables before another tragedy strikes," says Rajeev, Kurup's relative. "I soon rang up the local KSEBL office, but nobody picked up." The KSEB data shows 463 accidents, 208 of them fatal, in 2016. Some 69 animals also died. The case was no different the previous year. It gives frequent training to staff and contract workers against such accidents. But electrocutions continue unabated.