KERC takes Escoms to task following death of woman by electrocution in Bengaluru, says ‘we cannot take human lives so lightly’

Following the death of a woman and her child of electrocution at Kadugodi, an expert committee had given a report with recommendations to prevent electrical accidents. It had suggested the installation of earth guard stirrups (components that provide earthing to conductors) near electrical poles.  

The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) took electricity supply companies (escoms) in the State to task for their negligence resulting in electrical accidents. 

This follows the death of 55-year-old Manjamma by electrocution on October 7 near Tavarekere in Bengaluru. The death highlighted the lack of maintenance of electrical infrastructure by Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom). The woman died after coming in contact with a snapped conductor the same way that a 23-year-old woman and her baby died in November 2023 near Kadugodi.

“They give the least priority to electrical accidents. It is not just the deaths of humans, but also animals and crops, which are bearing the brunt. It is a fact that there is a lack of maintenance of infrastructure and safety measures on the part of escoms,” said P. Ravikumar, Chairman, KERC. 

“We cannot take human lives so lightly. We have to take action against irresponsible officers. They cannot wash their hands off saying it was a technical fault. We will take strict action even in this case.”

The conductor at Tavarekere had snapped after the pinhole in the insulator got punctured. 

Following the accident at Kadugodi, an expert committee had given a report with recommendations to prevent electrical accidents. It had suggested the installation of earth guard stirrups (components that provide earthing to conductors) near electrical poles.  

“The stirrup is usually around a meter away from the electric pole. When the conductor snaps, it will fall on the stirrup, and it helps in earthing. After that, even if the conductor falls on a concrete surface, it will trip, and the flow will be isolated. In the absence of a stirrup, if a conductor falls on concrete surface, it will not trip,” said a member of the expert committee.