Brahmagiri: Expressing concern over the electrocution of a labourer here in July last year, the Orissa Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sought reports from Central Electricity Supply Utility of Orissa (Cesu) authorities.
The rights body has directed Cesu chief executive officer and executive engineers in Puri and Bhubaneswar to furnish reports within four weeks in connection with the electrocution of Bamadev Bhoi, a resident of Khilakantia village under Brahmagiri police limits here.
The OHRC directive follows a petition filed by rights activist Rama Shankar Patra holding the Cesu authorities responsible for Bhoi’s electrocution.
In his petition, Patra has informed the commission that Bhoi, a labourer, was on his way in a sand-laden truck (OR-04-E-5399) when he came in contact with a dangling high tension wire on Brahmania-Janla Road and succumbed July 22, 2017.
Observing that the incident had happened due to the callousness of the energy supplying entity, which had failed to ensure timely maintenance of the overhead wires, the petitioner had moved OHRC seeking directives to the authorities for Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to the next-of-kin of Bhoi.