A day after seven-year-old Uday Kumar N. was electrocuted, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) on Monday blamed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which in turn blamed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
According to a statement issued by Bescom, the agency/contractor entrusted with renovation of the park had drawn an unauthorised line from the street light. The contractor had skinned out the insulated wire at various points and used the power supply illegally for the welding work. The skinned out wire was not covered after completion of work, the statement read, and added that the boy came in contact with the live portion of the wire and was electrocuted.
Stating that it was still awaiting a detailed report, the power utility pointed out that the accident was caused by the negligence of the contractor.
The utility has informed the BBMP to take action against the agency. Bescom’s Executive Engineer has also been directed to take legal action against the agency/contractor for drawing unauthorised power for welding purposes, the statement claimed.
‘Negligence’
Meanwhile, councillor A. Kodanda Reddy said it was negligence on part of the contractor. He said the BBMP park had been transferred to the BDA to undertake renovation and development around a year ago. The BDA handed over the work to a contractor, who had not taken any precaution, he said. “I have submitted a memorandum demanding ₹10 lakh compensation to the family of the child, apart from filing a criminal case against the contractor concerned after a thorough investigation into the unfortunate accident,” he said.