Electrocuted linesman’s kin, colleagues hold protest

Mohali, July 6

A day after linesman Satwinder Singh was electrocuted atop a power pole in full public view, the deceased’s kin and members of the Powercom and Transco Contract Workers Union (PTCWU) today staged a protest against the inhumane working conditions and lack of safety gear for the PSPCL linesmen, near the Kharar bus stand.

Satwinder was electrocuted while fixing a fault on an 11KV line. With no hydraulic lift to rescue him, the linesman remained enmeshed in electricity wires. Hundreds of locals kept watching him helplessly for more than half an hour. Fellow workers and locals arranged two bamboo ladders and a tipper truck in a bid to rescue him. An ambulance failed to reach in time even as it was barely 200 metres away from the spot. Finally, the victim was taken to a hospital in a tipper truck, eyewitnesses said.

“A thorough inquiry should be held immediately and the responsibility of the erring officials should be fixed,” the victim’s family members demanded.

Satwinder, a resident of Mehtabgarh, is survived by his wife and a 10-year-old boy.

With tears in his eyes and a lump in throat, younger brother Gursewak Singh raised slogans against the Punjab Government and the Powercom, demanding justice for his brother.

Harpreet Singh of the PTCWU said, “This government and the PSPCL are running away from their responsibility. We demand Rs 50 lakh compensation and a government job for the deceased’s kin.”

PTCWU members alleged that despite repeated calls to the official, the hydraulic crane did not reach the spot. “We are working with bare minimum tools, risking our lives on a daily basis.”

The protesting employees alleged that despite approaching Kharar MLA Anmol Gagan Maan’s office many a times, no help was provided by her.