Rising Concerns Over Safety Negligence in Samba District
RC SHARMA
Jammu, Dec 06: A tragic incident occurred today in the Purmandal area of Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir, where a lineman and his labour assistant lost their lives to a fatal electric shock while working on an electric pole. The deceased have been identified as Raj Kumar, aged 54 and a resident of Motlian Kalan, who was working as a daily-wager with the Power Development Department, and Angrez Singh, aged 35, a resident of Mandal who was assisting him as a labourer.
The duo was straightening an electricity pole when they were suddenly struck by a powerful current from a high-tension line. Both collapsed on the spot and were immediately shifted to the Primary Health Centre at Purmandal. They were later referred to Government Medical College, Jammu, where doctors declared them dead.
This tragic loss of lives has once again highlighted a disturbing pattern in Samba district, where multiple linemen and helpers have died under similar circumstances in recent years. Locals recall the July 2015 incident where Sham Lal, also known as Lachhu, a lineman from Kehli Mandi, died due to electrocution while repairing a line in the SIDCO industrial area. That tragedy had triggered widespread public protests. Several other such cases have also been reported in 2023, 2024 and even earlier this year near the Basantar Bridge, raising serious concerns about worker safety in the region.
Experts and locals alike believe that these repeated fatalities are the result of gross negligence and violation of basic safety standards. It is suspected that the high-tension line in today’s incident was not properly shut down, de-energized or earthed before work began, which is considered a primary cause behind most electrocution deaths among power workers in India. Workers were also reportedly not provided with essential safety gear such as insulated gloves, helmets, and protective boots, leaving them vulnerable to high-voltage exposure.
Another major concern is the deployment of untrained labourers on dangerous electrical assignments. Angrez Singh, who died alongside the lineman, was not a certified technician, indicating a clear breach of safety laws which mandate only qualified and authorised personnel for such high-risk tasks. Lack of supervision, improper risk assessment, and the absence of the standard Lock-Out/Tag-Out procedure further contributed to the tragedy.
The heartbreaking incident has sparked anger among locals, who are demanding strict accountability from the authorities. They have urged the government to enforce safety rules more rigorously, ensure availability of personal protective equipment to all workers, and provide proper training so that lives are not endangered in the name of restoring power supply quickly.
Residents have also appealed for immediate compensation of not less than ₹20–30 lakh to each bereaved family, along with a government job to one family member as a support measure. Many say these deaths were completely preventable and are the result of systemic failure that must be corrected without delay.
As the families of Raj Kumar and Angrez Singh mourn their devastating loss, the community awaits a strong response from the administration to ensure that such avoidable tragedies do not continue to claim the lives of workers who serve tirelessly to keep the lights on for the public.
