HYDERABAD: The death of a constable by electrocution during rainfall brought into question the safety measures in place for the public at electric transformers, who fear a lack of insulation might cause a repeat of such an incident.
There are over 1.3 lakh power distribution transformers (DPTs) in the city, each linked to multiple electric poles, depending on the power load.
Authorities speculated that the constable’s death may have been caused due to a leak from one of the poles that is connected by underground cables.
An officer with the TS Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) said: “The cement basement of the pole where the accident took place might have been damaged recently and due to heavy rains, there might be a leakage. We make sure that there is no negligence from our side while erecting poles, laying underground cables or installing DPTs.”
The officer, refusing to be named, said: “Some persons running kiosks in congested areas like Begum Bazaar have damaged the fencing of DPT and encroaching the place. We will be taking action against encroachers.”
TSSPDCL sources said that while most of the live cables that connect the poles are insulated, some on sub-roads need to be insulated. Most of the iron poles have been replaced with reinforced cement concrete ones for safety, they said.
A senior TSSPDCL officer, requesting anonymity, said: “We are replacing transformers and are serious about the 10-foot pillar (mandatory spacing) post installation. There are only a few transformers that are to be modified as per the norms and soon, we will also upgrade them.”
