Nagpur: Mayor Neeta Thakre on Wednesday directed NMC’s public health engineering (PHE) department to initiate action against the Gujarat-based contractor responsible for damaging an underground electric cable that led to the electrocution of 60-year-old woman in Auliya Nagar.Before issuing the directions, Thakre sought a detailed briefing on the spot inspection carried out by NMC’s electrical department. Executive Engineer Rajendra Rathore, who led the inspection, informed the mayor the tragedy could have been averted had the damaged cable been repaired on time.“The inspection also revealed that the contractor allegedly concealed the damaged high-mast electric cable, instead of reporting it,” she told TOI, citing Rathore’s findings.Thakre later spoke with PHE superintending engineer Shweta Banerjee, who initially stiffly maintained the woman had died of a cardiac arrest. Thakre questioned her on whether the underground cable had been damaged during excavation for the AMRUT 2.0 sewerage project. Banerjee replied the sewer pipeline had been laid four months ago and no incidents of electrocution had been reported in the area since then.Thakre, however, pointed out recent rains had washed away the soil covering the damaged cable, exposing it and allowing electric current to leak to the surface. During the discussion, Banerjee acknowledged the electrical department’s inspection report had attributed the cable damage to excavation carried out for the sewerage project. Thakre also warned that if negligence or a casual approach on part of NMC officials was established, they too would face action. “Human life is not cheap. Accountability must be fixed,” she said.
