Visakhapatnam: Holding the authorities (CMD and two others), of Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL) guilty of negligence, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Vizianagaram, has directed the APEPDCL authorities to pay Rs 6.88 lakh as compensation, besides litigation cost to the family of G. Satyanarayana, 29, who died after being electrocuted.
He was an agriculture labourer at Pachivalasa area under Dattirajeru mandal, in Vizianagaram district, and he was the only breadwinner of the six-member family, including children and parents and wife. On September 14, 2015, Satyanarayana died of electrocution after he came in contact with a live electrical wire lying on the ground of the service wire from the house of Duppada Rama Murthy at Pachivalasa area in the district. The Burjivalasa police registered a case under Section 174 of CrPc. Blaming the EPDCL for their negligence, that has led to the death of Satyanarayana, family members (wife, two children and parents of the deceased) approached consumer disputes redressal forum seeking compensation of Rs 10 lakh from EPDCL citing that they were deprived of Satyanarayana’s love and future support.
However, the APEPDCL filed a counter that there was no negligence on their part citing that there was heavy rain accompanied by strong gales on September 14, 2015. While locals were taking a procession for immersion of Lord Ganesh idol on a tractor and when it reached near the house of Duppada Ramana Murthy, the service wire connected to the pole got snapped and fell down. Satyanarayana had lifted the snapped wife without taking any safety precaution and died of electrocution.
The EPDCL authorities mentioned that the discom is not liable to pay any compensation to the family members of the deceased. Vizianagaram district consumer disputes redressal forum led by president V Mohan Kumar and member VVL Narasimha Rao held that APEPDCL was responsible for the death of Satyanarayana as the discom failed to maintain the electric lines properly during heavy rains by making inspection from time to time to avoid such cutting of wires. The forum has asked the discom to pay Rs6.88 lakh as compensation to the deceased family besides Rs 1,000 as legal litigation charges recently.
