AGRA: A total of 1,347 people died of electrocution in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 2020 — an average of over 7 deaths in 48 hours — after coming in contact with naked live wires, according to the latest data released on October 28 by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The number of such deaths increased by over 136% in the last six years, if data provided by the state directorate for electrical safety is also taken into account.
According to the state directorate for electrical safety data, accessed by TOI, a total of 570 people had died of electrocution in 2012-13. The number of such deaths increased to 611 in 2013-14, 629 in 2014-15 and 1,116 in 2018-19.
Of the 1,347 deaths in UP in 2020 (as per the NCRB data), there were 1,179 males and 168 females, and 50 people suffered burn injuries in 1,338 incidents of electrocution in the state in 2020.
The NCRB data further says that in all the 28 states and eight union territories, 13,466 people died in 2020 due to electrocution, 147 more than the deaths in 2019. This means that on an average, over 36 people died every day after coming in contact with a live wire. Madhya Pradesh (MP) tops the list with 2,412 (2,333 in 2019) electrocution deaths followed by Maharasthra with 1,499 (1,599 in 2019) for the corresponding period. After UP, Rajasthan is fourth in the list with 1,269 electrocution deaths (1,221 in 2019).
Managing director of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL) Pankaj Kumar refused to comment on the NCRB report. “We have issued instructions to minimise such incidents. We have fixed responsibilities and take actions in cases of negligence,” he said.
Meanwhile, a chief engineer-rank official of state government-owned discom Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitral Nigam Limited said on condition of anonymity, “We have been continuously working to fulfil all safety norms, including installation of loop insulators in electric poles. Regular patrolling along power supply lines is being done. Measures are being taken for proper earthing and fencing of transformers. We have come across several cases where people died of electrocution while trying to tamper with cables to steal power.”
