SIRAJGANJ, Aug 4: At least eight people were electrocuted in Kadai Village under Kaliahoripur Union of Sadar Upazila on July 31 last.
Local people have alleged that authority concerned is responsible for this accident caused by irregularity and negligence in power supply. They demanded punishment for those responsible in this connection.
While visiting, it was found that Power Development Board (PDB) gave electric connections to more than 2,000 houses in Kadai, Bonbaria, Charbonbaria and Baoitara villages in Kaliaharipur Union of Sadar Upazila. Northern Electric Supply Company Limited (NESCO) is now looking into the matter. Besides NESCO, there are power connections of Palli Bidyut Samity in the villages.
The PDB's connections have given using trees and bamboo poles instead of electric poles. In many places, the electric wires have been severed and are hanging on the ground. Anybody touching the wires may be electrocuted.
Four connections have been given after using a tree as a pole near one Sattar's house in Kadai Village. Miles after miles, the power connections have been given in this way for last 10 years. Though the consumers are asking for electric poles, the authority is not paying any heed to this. The electrocution at Kadai Village has happened for this, said affected people.
The corrupt officials of power department take Tk 6,000 to 15,000 for each new connection, and in this way they have earned lakhs of taka. The metre readers do not take actual reading from the respective metres and prepare fictitious monthly bills.
Md Omar Ali of Kadai Village said, "I had paid Tk 10,000 for taking new connection. The metre is not properly read. I have to pay Tk 300 as bill in one month, while in another month it is Tk 400. Though I was told that the connection would be given with electric pole, it was not done."
Liton Sheikh, Md Habon and Md Motaleb of the same village also echoed the same as Omar Ali. They said the electrocution is happening very often for haphazard power lines everywhere. Some days back, some students were electrocuted but nobody took it seriously. Due to negligence, these eight people died on July 31 last in the village.
While asked, Executive Engineer of NESCO AK Mohiuddin said the power supply lines in Kadai Village are risky and unsystematic. These lines were given before NESCO took charge from PDB. The matter was informed to the higher authority.
Though there are more than 52,000 consumers under NESCO in Sirajganj, he could not tell how many of them are in Kadai Village.
He also said two committees have been formed to investigate the accident in Kadai. Steps will be taken if anybody's irregularity or negligence is found.
