Munish Sood
A 28-year-old lineman working with the electricity department died after suffering an electric shock while repairing damaged power lines in Palampur on Monday, triggering massive protests by locals, relatives and electricity board employees over alleged negligence by the department.
The deceased has been identified as Mohan Lal alias Monu, a resident of Ranital, who was posted as a lineman in the Electricity Sub-Division Bindravan. The tragic incident occurred in Ward No. 7 of Bindravan while restoration work was underway following damage caused by a storm on Sunday night.
According to information, several electricity lines had snapped due to strong winds and bad weather. On Monday morning, Mohan Lal had climbed an electricity pole in a forest area near Bindravan to repair the damaged wires, while five to six employees were assisting from below by pulling the cables.
Sources said the power supply to the line had been disconnected before the repair work began. However, during the operation, the electricity supply was allegedly restored from behind by some employee, leading to the tragedy.
Employees working below the pole reportedly sensed current in the wires and immediately let go of them, but Mohan Lal, who was on the pole at the time, got no chance to save himself. He suffered a severe electric shock and was charred on the pole itself.
The incident led to outrage in the area, with hundreds of local residents, relatives of the deceased and electricity board employees gathering at the spot. Protesters alleged gross negligence in the handling of the repair operation and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Angry protesters reportedly refused to allow the body to be brought down from the pole until authorities assured them of a fair inquiry and justice for the deceased employee. The atmosphere at the site remained tense for several hours as employees and family members raised slogans demanding accountability, stating that such incidents could happen to any field worker if safety norms are ignored.
The death has once again highlighted serious concerns regarding safety standards and coordination during electricity repair operations, particularly during emergency restoration work after storms and bad weather.
Mohan Lal had reportedly got married only a few months ago and was living with his wife in a rented accommodation in the area.
Police, fire brigade officials and senior officers of the electricity department reached the spot after receiving information about the incident. An investigation into the matter has been initiated.
Despite repeated attempts, no senior official from the electricity department was available for detailed comments regarding the alleged lapse at the time of filing this report.
