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Key Points

Another electrocution death in Kolkata has pushed the total fatalities to 11 since September 16. The latest victim, 66-year-old Srabanti Debi, died while trying to open her shop in waterlogged conditions. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized CESC Limited for failing to improve infrastructure despite repeated warnings. Both the power company and state government have announced compensation for the victims' families.

Key Points: Kolkata Electrocution Deaths CESC Blamed for 11 Fatalities

  • Srabanti Debi died after contact with submerged electric wire
  • CESC Limited faces criticism for infrastructure negligence
  • Waterlogging contributed to dangerous electrical conditions
  • Compensation announced for victim families by state and company
2 min read

Another electrocution death in Bengal, toll rises to 11

Tragic electrocution incidents in Kolkata rise to 11, with Mamata Banerjee criticizing CESC Limited for infrastructure failures amid waterlogging

"Even on Saturday, the water had not receded completely - Local Eyewitness"

Kolkata, Sep 27

Another death due to electrocution has been reported in Kolkata on Saturday, with the victim being a 66-year-old woman.

The deceased woman has been identified as Srabanti Debi, and the place of occurrence was in front of a shop owned by her at Behala-Sarsuna Road in the southern outskirts of Kolkata.

With this, the total number of electrocution deaths in and around Kolkata since September 16 increased to 11.

According to eyewitnesses, she was unable to open her shop since Tuesday because of massive waterlogging in the area where the shop was located.

"Even on Saturday, the water had not receded completely. She (Srabanti Debi) came in front of her house and tried to open the shutter of the shop while standing in the rainwater accumulated there. There, somehow she got in contact with a naked electricity wire that was underwater and got electrocuted," a local eyewitness said.

The local people told the police as well as the private power generation-cum-distribution entity, CESC Limited.

The body of the victim was recovered and taken to the nearby Vidyasagar hospital, where she was declared dead.

The wire that she came in touch with was connected to a light on the teen-shade of the shop owned by the victim, a CESC official said after inspection in the area.

On September 16, a total of 10 people, including eight in Kolkata, died from electrocution in West Bengal after they came in contact with the naked electricity wires submerged in the accumulated rainwater.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed CESC Limited, which enjoys a monopoly in power distribution in Kolkata and its adjacent district of Howrah, for the mishap.

She claimed that despite her repeated warnings, the private power utility did not focus on improving its own infrastructure.

Later, the CESC announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of each of the victims.

The state government also announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for each family.

This week, a division bench of the Calcutta High Court sought a report from CESC Limited over the multiple electrocution deaths in and around Kolkata on September 23.

The division bench, at the same time, directed Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to file a report by the same date on the initiatives taken by the corporation for the effective functioning of the city's sewerage system to prevent waterlogging.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Waterlogging in Kolkata during monsoon is an annual problem, but naked wires underwater? This is criminal negligence. Both CESC and KMC should work together to prevent such tragedies. My condolences to the family.
R
Rohit P
11 deaths in just over a week! When will our systems become proactive rather than reactive? The High Court's intervention is necessary but action should have been taken after the first incident itself.
M
Michael C
While the compensation is important, what about preventive measures? The infrastructure needs urgent upgrading. This could happen to anyone walking through waterlogged areas. Safety should be the priority.
A
Ananya R
As a Kolkata resident, this scares me. We face waterlogging every year but electrical safety is non-negotiable. CESC should conduct immediate safety audits across the city before more lives are lost.
D
David E
While the CM is blaming CESC, the municipal corporation also has responsibility for drainage systems. It's a collective failure of multiple agencies. Proper coordination could have prevented this tragedy.
K
Kavya N
So sad to hear about Srabanti Debi. At 66, she was still working hard. This incident shows how vulnerable our elderly population is. We need better disaster preparedness during monsoons. 🙏

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