A devastating chain of events in Punjab's Patiala district has left a village in deep sorrow and raised serious questions about worker safety. A lineman was electrocuted while repairing a live power line, and the shock of his death hours later triggered a fatal heart attack in his mother.
A Fatal Shock and a Mother's Grief
The tragedy unfolded on Monday in Bhore village near Nabha. Sanjeev Kumar, a lineman from Bhore, was carrying out repair work on a power supply line in Babarpur. According to witness accounts, he received a massive electric shock when the electricity supply was allegedly restored without any prior warning. The powerful jolt threw him off the utility pole.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival. The grief had barely settled when the situation took an even more tragic turn. Sanjeev Kumar's mother, Shimlo Devi, collapsed after being informed of her son's passing. Family members stated she suffered a massive heart attack and died moments later.
Allegations of Negligence and Police Action
The double fatality has ignited anger among relatives and fellow villagers. They allege that mandatory safety protocols were completely ignored, leading to the preventable death of the lineman. A police report indicates that the repair work was conducted without a mandatory permit or a formal "shutdown clearance" from the power department.
Relatives have pointed to procedural negligence, claiming power was restored prematurely while Sanjeev Kumar was still working on the pole. Acting on a formal complaint, the local police have registered a case against junior engineer Harpreet Singh. The investigation is now focused on identifying who authorized the restoration of power and whether criminal negligence was involved.
Departmental Inquiry and Compensation Promise
Following the incident, Nabha executive engineer P Bhanot issued a statement expressing condolences to the bereaved family. He confirmed that a high-level departmental inquiry has been initiated to probe the circumstances. "We are investigating whether the required permit was issued before the work commenced," Bhanot said.
He assured the Bhore village community that the family would receive "due compensation and all possible assistance" as per state rules for fatalities occurring during duty. This tragedy has reignited a fierce debate over the safety of utility workers in the region. Labour advocates are demanding stricter enforcement of the "permit-to-work" system to prevent such electrocutions in the future.
