Sheer negligence by authorities over rusted base of an electric pole claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl, P. Pandeeswari, along the southern bank of Vaigai river in Keezha Santhapettai.
The street light pole that was cut off along surface of the ground reportedly due to heavy wind fell over the girl, studying 2nd standard, at around 3.45 p.m. on Monday. Consequently, she succumbed to injuries at the Government Rajaji Hospital at 7 p.m.
“The girl was playing along the road when the pole came down crashing. It fell on the spine of the girl and she was immobilised,” said M. Pandiyarajan (35), the girl’s relative.
Some 40 families of a particular community involved in washing of clothes in the Vaigai river live in small thatched and tin-roofed huts here close to Sudalaimuthu Pillai Street. The victim is one of the four children of Pugalenthi.
The motherless child started bleeding from her mouth and she could not speak after she was injured, a woman witness said.
Even as the men and women of the colony were shocked over the incident, motorists who passed by took efforts to call 108 for ambulance and also raised some money for the medical attention of the girl, the woman recalled.
J. David Xavier, who runs a tea-shop in the vicinity, claimed that he had taken up the lurking danger due to the shaking electric pole with Corporation employees at the nearby pumping station.
“Though an official inspected the pole three months back, no action had been taken,” complained Mr. Xavier.
Immediately, after the crowd gathered at the scene, Corporation employees who were attending to some street light in the vicinity, rushed to the spot and took away the electric pole, said the residents.
However, after the city police arrived at the spot, they took custody of the pole, said Pandiyarajan.
Residents complained that the street light pole was not properly erected. “There was no concrete base on the ground for the pole. The pole developed rust as it was directly erected on the soil,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Teppakulam police have registered a case of death caused by negligence against the officials of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and Madurai Corporation.
The police were enquiring with the Corporation and TNEB officials.
Meanwhile, Corporation Commissioner, Sandeep Nanduri, clarified that all the electric poles in the Corporation area belonged to TNEB.
“Only the street light fittings are put up by the Corporation. In fact, the Corporation had already written about the poor condition of some of the poles in the city and asked them to replace. We will again remind the TNEB,” he said.
However, P. Baskar, Superintendenting Engineer (Madurai Metro) of TNEB claimed that the tubular pole was meant exclusively for street light and no such poles belong to TNEB. It is under the maintenance of Madurai Corporation.
“Our Assistant Engineer has clarified this to the city police,” he said.
