Danger appears to lurk behind each electricity pole or swing-set in municipal parks. Sunday saw the second fatality at a North Delhi Municipal Corporation park in just over a month.
Twenty-four-year-old Gaurav Rana was walking his dog at a park in Pitampura’s Vaishali Encalve at 10 p.m. on Sunday, when he happened to come in contact with a live wire attached to a light pole.
Area councillor for Pitampura (South) ward Chandi Ram Chawla said Rana and his pet were both electrocuted as old wiring had not been removed from the pole and it ended up conducting a current from the new wire. The victim is survived by his wife and a two-month-old baby, said Mr. Chawla.
“Unfortunately, there has been negligence on part of our officials in repairing and maintaining the electrical fittings in parks. We shouldn’t wait for such incidents to wake up,” said the BJP councillor.
On December 11, 2014, a child playing on a swing at a Moti Nagar municipal park died when the metallic rod fell, killing her instantly.
After that incident, North Corporation Commissioner Pravin Kumar Gupta had ordered an inquiry into the state of swings in the civic body’s 5,500 parks. Mr. Gupta informed the House on Monday that after a survey of all parks, swings were either repaired or removed depending on their conditions.
He said the Rohini Zone Deputy Commissioner had been asked to probe the Sunday’s incident.
“Action will be taken after the Deputy Commissioner submits his report, which should be done in two days,” said Mr. Gupta.
