Hyderabad: A 29-year-old contract electrician with the electricity department died while at work on a transformer Saleemnagar, Malakpet.
It is mandatory for electricity staff to wear safety belts, helmet and should carry a rod with copper wire for earthing. Even though electricity to the transformer is switched off, there will be some power in it and copper wire is used to discharge it, said Mr G. Nagaraju, convener of Telangana Vidyut Karmika Sangam.
Southern discom divisional engineer, Malakpet, P. Suresh said, the worker had to be supervised by an assistant engineer but he also has to take care of the whole division. “Two or three members go together. They have to supervise themselves. It is impossible for an assistant engineer to supervise the whole division.”
"As far my knowledge he was wearing a safety cap and using earth rod. He fell down from coming down from the pole,” Mr Sursh said.
Immediately after the incident, about 3,000 employees protested in front of Osmania General Hospital with Chinnababu’s body, demanding ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh and a permanent job for a member of the family.
Mr Sundar singh, the brother of Mr Chinnababu, said, “My brother died due to electric shock. He was the only earning person of the family. He has a wife and two children, a two-year-old son and a seven-month-old baby. We demand a job for his wife.”
Mr G. Nagaraju, convener, Telangana Vidyut Karmika Sangham, said the government used to give ex gratia of '10 lakh and a permanent job to a family member. “Since three months three electricians have died while on duty but none of them received the compensation, he alleged.
Southern discom superintendenting engineer D.F. Mohan said the contractor-based system was changed to the artisen-based system where the discom pays the salary.
He said since the case is in court, the discom couldn’t take any decision on providing employment to the family member. “The family has been given ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh. He will get Rs 10 lakh Insurance after some legal formalities," Mr Mohan said.
Mr K. Eshwar Rao, Telangana Vidyut Karmika Sangham (TVKS), joint action committee chairman alleged that non-locals were being recruited under the artisan scheme. He claimed that union leaders were detained in a compound and the body of Chinnababu was sent to his native Prakasam district.
