What the electrocution of a painter (Anil, aged 40), at NST Colony here Saturday brought to light was the hazardous conditions that labourers often have to work due to non-enforcement of basic safety rules in the State.
The incident proved that rapid urbanisation coupled with disdain for safety measures and planning are perfect recipes for a disaster waiting to happen.
On Monday, Nagaland Post had visited the spot where the labourer (Anil) was electrocuted. It was found that three transmission electric cables hung perilously close to the balcony of the second floor, barely a foot away. On that fateful day, one of the cables closest to the balcony’s edge was without insulation. The labourer was electrocuted by this particular electrical wire while working on the building.
The electrical cable had not been insulated when the incident took place but by Monday, it was found to have been insulated with black tape at two places. It may be mentioned that the two high tension cables out of the three, running along the building were insulated whereas, the one closest to the building was not insulated.
As per safety regulations, transmission cables across civilian populated areas are supposed to be insulated.
Later Nagaland Post visited the injured labourer (Anil) at MH Hospital at Circular Road. Though fortunately alive, Anil was in immense pain with his entire body, except neck and face, covered with bandage. Speaking feebly, Anil could barely move but narrated the incident. Anil said he was painting the outside portion of the building on Saturday morning when he accidentally came into contact with the live cable. The electric shock was so powerful that he felt being pulled by a powerful magnetic force.
A video that circulated on Facebook showed him dangling on a bamboo frame while the electric current caused smoke and sparks on his body. Passersby who saw the shocking spectacle managed to help him and then rushed to MH Hospital. The immediate medical attention saved Anil’s life.
Nagaland Post also spoke to two SDOs of the electricity department– Akito Muru from Burma Camp power house and Namheu Khate from PWD power house – on why the cable was not insulated and exposed and if mandatory vertical and horizontal distance between high voltage wires and buildings were maintained.
Khate said the line in NST Colony existed even before the building was constructed and that the power department was often finds itself in a hopeless situation when the department is asked to move transmission cables only after buildings were constructed.
Khate said such cases of electrical cables passing perilously close to buildings were also rampant in New Market. He stressed on enforcement of well-defined rules under which permission would have to be sought from the authority concerned before buildings were constructed.
On the other hand, Muru alleged that general public often threw caution to the wind and disregarded rules and regulations. Quoting Indian Electricity Act, 1956, he said clearance for lines passing horizontally along a building was a minimum of 1.2 metres but the particular line in question was less than a foot. The vertical clearance for lines passing over buildings was 2.5 meters, he added.
Muru also pointed out that, apart from the structures built close to electrical lines, the department officers also faced threats whenever they went on a disconnection drive.
Meanwhile, the injured labourer will now have to foot his entire medical expenses since the owner of the building where he worked, had agreed to pay for only the first two days of hospitalisation.
Meanwhile, apart from the building in question, it has also been observed that other buildings in the colony were perilously close to power cables spread out in all directions.
The incident should wake up both department officers and authorities to enforce safety regulations in order to prevent further tragedy.