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Key Points

AISF legislator Nawsad Siddique has taken the issue of Kolkata's electrocution deaths to the Calcutta High Court. His PIL demands both compensation for the victims' families and a high-level probe into why these incidents keep happening. The case comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly blamed the private power utility CESC for the tragedies. CESC, however, has stated that most of the deaths were due to internal wiring problems inside homes.

Key Points: AISF's Nawsad Siddique Files PIL Over Kolkata Electrocution Deaths

  • PIL seeks compensation for families of 10 electrocution victims in Kolkata
  • Demands judicial inquiry into recurring deaths during city inundation
  • Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blames CESC utility for negligence
  • CESC claims most deaths occurred due to internal wiring issues in homes
2 min read

AISF legislator files PIL at Calcutta HC over electrocution deaths in Kolkata

AISF legislator Nawsad Siddique files a PIL in Calcutta HC seeking compensation and a judicial probe into Kolkata's recurring electrocution deaths after rains.

"We will be more vigilant so that such incidents do not happen next time - CESC Statement"

Kolkata, Sep 24

Nawsad Siddique, the lone All India Secular Front (AISF) representative in the West Bengal Assembly, on Wednesday, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) at the Calcutta High Court on the multiple electrocution deaths in Kolkata on Tuesday.

A total of 10 persons were reported to be killed in and around Kolkata on Tuesday after coming in contact with the naked wires submerged in the rainwater, following night-long heavy showers.

In his PIL, Siddique had sought compensation for the family members of those killed in electrocution.

He also sought a high-level judicial inquiry into why such electrocution deaths have become a common and recurring factor in Kolkata, whenever there is city street inundation because of the rain.

The petition has been admitted. The matter is expected to come up for hearing at Calcutta High Court’s division bench of Justice Sujay Paul and Justice Smita Das De on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed Sanjiv Goenka-owned private power generation-cum-distribution utility, CESC Ltd, for the electrocution deaths and also said that the management of the power utility should pay compensation to the family members of the victim and also provide jobs to at least one member of the family.

Besides power generation, CESC is responsible for power distribution in Kolkata and the adjacent district of Howrah, and for these two districts, the entity enjoys a total distribution monopoly.

The Chief Minister claimed that despite reaping rich profits from West Bengal, the CESC management did not concentrate on modernisation activities in West Bengal. She also accused the CESC management of repeatedly ignoring her caution notes in the matter.

On Tuesday night, a senior CESC official issued a statement, claiming that of the eight electrocution deaths in the city, five happened inside the respective houses of the victims due to wiring issues.

"Two cases have happened due to touching the street light posts, which are not generally maintained by the CESC. One happened at a signal kiosk. We will be more vigilant so that such incidents do not happen next time,' the CESC statement read.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Every monsoon we hear about such incidents. Why can't the authorities fix this permanently? Both the government and CESC need to work together on infrastructure upgrades. Enough of blame games!
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the PIL, I wish our elected representatives would be more proactive rather than reactive. Infrastructure safety audits should happen before monsoon season every year.
A
Arjun K
CESC's response is typical - shifting blame to internal wiring. What about the street lights and signal kiosks? They need to take responsibility for public safety. Monopoly leads to complacency.
M
Michael C
The judicial inquiry is necessary. We need transparent findings about why this keeps happening. Compensation is important, but preventing future deaths is crucial. 🙏
K
Kavya N
As a Kolkata resident, this is terrifying. We shouldn't have to fear walking in rainwater. Hope the High Court takes strict action and ensures proper safety measures are implemented.

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