Hyderabad: A 36-year-old electricity department contract employee K. Vittal died and another person Naresh was injured after they fell off an electric pole on which they were carrying out repairs, in Motinagar on Friday.
As per the SOP, an employee climbing an electric pole should get clearance from the ground staff that the power supply is switched off and he should be wearing a safety belt, helmet, handgloves and an earthing cable during repair. But, on Friday, neither was wearing any protective gear.
Officials said that he could have slipped and fallen but there was no electrocution. “We gave clearance after switching off the power supply. Vittal was employed by a private contractor to whom the job was assigned,” said an official who was supervising the restoration work.
He added that the deceased’s family would be paid Rs 5 lakh as compensation from the electricity department. Meanwhile, forensic experts said that Vittal had died of his head injuries and internal bleeding and that there was no electrocution.
Based on a complaint by Naresh, a case has been registered. Vittal is survived by his wife, who is also a daily wage earner, and two young children.
