KEEMA demands action after fatal transformer blast in Budgam
Srinagar, June 23: The Kashmir Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Association (KEEMA) has expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the recent transformer explosion in Budgam, which claimed one life and left several others critically injured.
In a statement, KEEMA extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and expressed solidarity with those injured, calling for justice, accountability, and immediate corrective measures.
Terming the incident a "man-made disaster" rather than an accident, KEEMA blamed the tragedy on systemic negligence and the continued use of substandard, uncertified electrical equipment. “Despite our repeated warnings to the government and the Power Development Department (PDD), non-compliant materials continue to be deployed, putting lives at risk,” said KEEMA President Raja Nayeem Ahmed.
According to the association, preliminary findings indicate that the transformer involved lacked valid ISI certification and had not undergone the mandatory quality checks. KEEMA described this as a case of "criminal negligence" and demanded the immediate registration of an FIR against both the installing agency and the supplier involved. “Those responsible must be booked under relevant provisions of Indian law. Continued silence from authorities is unacceptable,” the statement read.
KEEMA also highlighted that in its 50-year history, not a single mishap has occurred involving equipment certified by its member manufacturers. “This tragic incident underscores the danger of bypassing certified local suppliers in favour of uncertified and dubious alternatives,” the statement added.
Calling on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to take urgent cognisance, KEEMA demanded a comprehensive, independent, and time-bound judicial inquiry into the blast to establish both individual and institutional culpability. It further called for strict enforcement of standards across the power sector to prevent future tragedies.
KEEMA reiterated its willingness to assist the government with technical expertise but emphasised that appeals alone are no longer sufficient. “This is not just a tragedy—it is a reckoning. Justice delayed is not only justice denied, it is death repeated,” the statement concluded.
