Electrocution due to staff shortage, machinery: Union

CHENNAI: A day after the death of two children who stepped on a live wire of a pillar box that came in contact with water, an employees’ trade union on Thursday sought to blame the tragedy on lack of enough State Electricity Board staff.

The pillar box could have been raised had the State Electricity Board provided adequate manpower and materials, the Central Organisation of Tamil Nadu Electricity Employees (COTEE) claimed. They urged the government to fill vacancies of 22,000 helpers who work as field staff.

The office in the area where the accident happened should have 18 staff — seven wiremen, seven helpers, two line inspectors and two foremen, claimed the president of COTEE S S Subramanian. However, when the accident happened, there were only five employees, he alleged.

He said when the pre-monsoon arrangements were being made, officials failed to factor in the lack of staff while trying to raise the height of pillar boxes. Pillar boxes too were in bad condition. “Wires have to be laid three feet deep but there are no machines to fit them and the biggest issue is getting permission from the Chennai Corporation for cutting the roads,” he said.

He urged the government to ensure the posts are filled so that such incidents don’t recur.

HC seeks report on tragedy

Chennai: Acting suo motu on the death of two little girls due to live wires submerged in water at Kodungaiyur on Wednesday, the first bench of the Madras High Court has directed the Government Pleader to submit a detailed report on the incident on Friday.