Two Labourers Electrocuted to Death in Gujarat's Valsad After Power Pole Touches High-Tension Wire
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Two contractual labourers were killed and three others suffered severe burn injuries when an electricity pole they were erecting came into direct contact with an overhead high-tension power line in Vavar village of Kaprada taluka, Valsad district, on Thursday.
The victims were carrying out infrastructure work contracted by Dakshin Gujarat Vij Company Limited (DGVCL) when the heavy metal structure tilted into the live high-voltage cable. The massive electrical surge immediately knocked all five workers to the ground. Local residents rushed to the scene to assist, alerting both local police and electricity department officials.
Victims Identified as Local Residents
Emergency teams confirmed two workers died on the spot from the electric shock. The deceased have been identified as Suresh Kusnabhai Pawar, aged 45, a resident of Vavar-Rithmal, and Sagar Ambadas Sarnayak, aged 30, residing in Ghartapada, Kaprada.
Three injured workers—Subhash Manubhai Dodka, Bhagwan Laxmanbhai Landa, and Hemesh Bhavuram Sarnayak—were pulled from the site and rushed to a nearby hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
Serious Protocol Breaches Questioned
The tragedy has sparked sharp criticism over safety compliance and protocol standard operating procedures during electrical grid maintenance. Key questions facing DGVCL officials and project supervisors include:
- Power Shutdown Approvals: Was an official power shutdown requested and granted for the high-tension line before lifting operations began?
- Safety Equipment Provision: Were contract workers supplied with standard safety gear, including insulated gloves, safety boots, and non-conductive helmets?
- Supervisory Oversight: Why was high-risk manual labor conducted directly beneath energized high-voltage lines without active safety monitoring?
Kaprada police and DGVCL officials have launched an investigation to establish the sequence of events and fix accountability for safety lapses.
