Pramesh S Jain & Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
I
n a heartrending incident,a 23-year-old woman and her nine month old baby girl were charred to death when he accidentally stepped on a strapped Bescom live wire lying unattended on the footpath near hope farm in kadugodi police station limits in the early hours of Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Soundarya and Suviksha.By the time people rushed to their help they were charred to death..
The Kadugodi police rushed to the spot and shifted the bodies to Vydehi hospital for post mortem.
The death raised safety of pedestrian once again as even people coming down heavily on negligence on part of Bescom officials.
Bengaluru central MP, PC,mohan condemned the incident and said . ” The electrocution at Hopefarm Junction,where a young woman lost her life, is heartbreaking and highlights the urgency for BESCOM to adopt preventive measures.
A heightened sense of responsibility from BESCOM is crucial in averting such incidents and ensuring a safer environment”.
Whitefield rising,a citizen forum group demanded strict action against erring officials .
The Kadugodi police have registered an FIR against five BESCOM officials charging them under death due to negligence following the tragic death of 23-year-old Soundharya and her nine-month-old baby girl near Hope farm in the early hours of Sunday.
Based on the complaint filed by Santosh Kumar, husband of Soundharya,the police charged Sriram, Executive Engineer,Chethan S,Assistant Engineer, Subramanya T,Assistant executive Engineer,Rajanna, Junior engineer and Manjunath station operator .
The accused officials have been summoned by the police,questioned and recorded the statement and
released on bail.
Santosh Kumar in his complaint,said that the family had gone to his native Neyaveli in Cuddalore in TN and returned to their house situated in AKG Colony.They got down at silk board junction and took a bus to hope farm to return home.
While walking on the footpath at hope farm towards their house,Santosh Kumar was walking ahead with the luggage walking on the left side of the footpath while Soundharya carring the baby was walking on the footpath.
Santosh Kumar heard the cry and turned back to see, Soundharya had stepped on to the live wire snapped and fell on the footpath .
Soon the fire engulfed her and the baby and she collapsed.Santosh shouted for help and tried to rescue them,but he too fell down after getting electric shock .
By then passers-by rushed to his help and dragged him away but Soudharya and the baby were died and gutted .
The police probe revealed that the BESCOM officials negligence to prevent accident,as they ignored the electric wire snapped and fell on the busy footpath endangering the safety of the people.
The officials when summoned and questioned blamed each other for the accident,following which the police booked all of them,a senior police official,said.
