GUWAHATI: A minor lost his life due to electrocution in Doom Dooma, Tinsukia, on August 9. The victim, identified as Deb Nayak, the young boy was on his way back from school at the time of the incident. He was the son of Bishnu Nayak and a resident of Tara Tea Estate.
The unfortunate incident happened when he encountered a live wire that had fallen onto the road within the premises of the tea estate. Ignorant of the potential danger it posed, Nayak attempted to clear the path by removing the live wire leading to his electrocution.
In the aftermath of the incident, the All Assam Tea Student Association (AATSA) accused the Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) of negligence resulting in the death of the minor. The AATSA’s statement alleged that despite the wire having snapped hours prior to the incident, the ASEB failed to respond promptly. The association added that this alleged negligence played a pivotal role in the tragic outcome.
The association has also called for the filing of an FIR against the ASEB. They have issued a stern warning, asserting that if similar incidents transpire in the future, they will be left with no choice but to undertake stringent measures against the department.
Previously, the Assam Power Distribution Limited revealed that 40 individuals had lost their lives to electrocution within the state during the financial year 2022-23. The data also shed light on primary factors such as short circuits, snapping of live wires amid floods and waterlogging, and the inadequately installed electric poles as primary causes behind these fatalities.
As per data from the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2021-22 there were 91 instances of electrocution within Assam. Among these, 89 people had died while two individuals were left severely injured.
