A pall of gloom descended Nard village after three persons including a father-son duo died due to electrocution and two others receive injuries following a short circuit in the village in Tangdhar area (Karnah) of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
During the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday ataround 3am a high voltage transmission line fell over a low voltage linecausing a ‘high-voltage short circuit’ in the village.
“The villagers who tried to plug off their gadgets receivedelectric shock, in which three persons died on the spot and two others receivedminor injuries,” locals from the area said.
They said the injured were evacuated to Sub-districtHospital Tangdhar where they are being treated.
Shocked by the death of three persons, scores of people frommany villages assembled in Tangdhar market and protested alleging negligence onthe part of the officials of the Power Development Department.
“We have repeatedly asked the PDD officials to repair thelines but they don’t pay any heed to our pleas which proved very costly today,”said Rafeeq Ahmad, a local, adding that strict action should be taken againstthe PDD officials.
The protestors refused to bury the deceased as they weredemanding strict action against the officials responsible.
Meanwhile, SHO and SDM Tagdhar visited the spot and assuredthe protesting locals that strict action will be initiated against the erringofficial after proper enquiry.
“We will check all the facts technically and file the reportto the higher officials for action,” said Aliyas Ahmad Sub-Division MagistrateTangdhar.
On the assurance of the SHO and SDM Tangdhar the localscalled off the protest and the bodies were taken for the last rites.
Meanwhile, police have registered an FIR under section 304RPC in the matter. “A case has been registered in PS Tangdhar against PDDofficials and investigation has been taken up,” SHO Mohammad Waseem toldGreater Kashmir.
He identifies the deceased as Abdul Qadeer son of YaqoobChak (55), Tabir Ahmad Chak S/o Abdul Qadeer Chak (26) and Qari Nawaz AhmadChak S/o Ali Asgar Chak (22).
The injured were identified as Mohammad Irshad Son of AliAsgar (30), Sakeena Wife of Abdul Hamid (45).
Meanwhile, a three member committee has been formulated byDeputy Commissioner Kupwara Anshul Garg to enquire into the incident. The ADDCKupwara shall be the chairman of the committee.
“I am one among themembers and I have visited the spot where the incidents took place and willsoon submit the report to the DC Kupwara office,” SDM Aliyas Ahmad told GreaterKashmir.