The family of a 45-year-old man of Salem district, who died of electrocution after he came in contact with a low-lying high tension line 11 years ago, is to get a compensation of Rs. 4 lakh.
On Friday, Justice K. Ravichandrabaabu of the Madras High Court ordered that the compensation be paid within six weeks. If the electricity authorities failed to adhere to the deadline, they should pay the sum with six per cent interest from the date of filing of the writ petition until payment of compensation.
The Judge held that the tragedy was due to the authorities’ negligence in not maintaining the ground clearance of the high tension line in accordance with the rules.
In a writ petition, Pappa, the victim’s wife, said on August 26, 2002, her husband Elumalai, a cattle broker, was grazing goats in Erangadu ground when he came in contact with a 110 kV power line running between K.R. Thoppur and Jalakandapuram. He succumbed to burns.
The petitioner submitted that the high tension line was lying just five feet from the ground level, lower than the required minimum height. Pappa and her three children filed the writ petition in 2004 seeking compensation.
The electricity authorities filed a counter stating that the accident occurred due to the victim’s negligence.
The transmission line had been erected as per the electricity rules with sufficient clearance. Patrolling was done in July 2002.
Later, the land owner had formed a more than five-foot high earth bund which had resulted in low clearance.
Investigation revealed that the victim had climbed the earth bund and raised his corncob and consequently came in contact with the power line.
