PDD daily wager loses life during work at Kotranka

Rajouri, Feb 17: A Power Development Department (PDD) daily wager lost his life during work at Kotranka in Rajouri district.

The death sparked protests. The locals accused the officials of department for gross negligence towards safety and security of field staff.

The deceased was identified as Mushtaq Ahmed son of Mohammad Bashir resident of Samote Kewal. The locals said that he was repairing power transmission lines alongwith other staff members at Draj village area of Kotranka and it was informed that power is on shutdown. The protesters said that power was restored without any intimation to the field staff and deceased suffered power shock. He was taken to sub- district hospital Kotranka where he was declared as brought dead.

After the incident , his family and locals held protest against PDD and blocked main road at Kotranka.

" Man died due to negligence of staff of department and such incidents are happenings regularly posing grave risk to the lives of field staff," they said. They added that no safety gears have been provided to the field staff for working in risky places and this is the main reason for which power development department workers are losing lives.

Later, officers of civil administration from Kotranka met with protesters informing that a proper compensation case will be submitted to concerned authorities for compensation while Rs 50,000 have been provided to the affected family as immediate assistance.

The officers also assured them all other help as per laid down norms after which the protest was called off.