Deaths by electrocution: Nepra orders inquiry against KE

Local court rejects police request to close case against power utility

KARACHI: The police requested a local court on Saturday to declare a case registered against the K-Electric as A-Class for its inability to arrest the accused - KE officials and employees -- named in the FIR.

The court of a local magistrate, however, rejected the request and ordered the police to present a final report on the next hearing along with the report of the provincial Electrical Inspector.

The court was hearing the case of the death of a citizen, Sheikh Saad Ahmed, by electrocution during the recent monsoon rainfall in Karachi.  The police submitted the A-Class report regarding the death of Sheikh Saad Ahmed.

According to the report, Sheikh Saad Ahmed died after suffering electrocution on July 29 in the area of Paposh Nagar. A case was registered against on behalf of deceased Saad Ahmed's brother Sheikh Waqas Ahmed. A letter has been written to the Electrical Inspector of the government of Sindh, said the police report.

The report also revealed that the elements responsible for deaths couldn't be identified even in 17 days. The letter to the Electrical Inspector also requested to ascertain the responsible persons for the incident.

The court, however, refused to accept the police report and ordered to submit the final report with the report of Electrical Inspector.

NEPRA inquiry

Meanwhile the National Electric and Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has initiated a formal inquiry against the K-Electric following a number of deaths due to electrocution in Karachi.

A statement issued by Nepra on Saturday said it has constituted a committee to probe into the deaths caused by electrocution during the recent rains in the metropolis.

Karachi witnessed wide-spread monsoon rains that had caused havoc due to flooding and water accumulation. A large number of fatal and non-fatal accidents occurred due to electrocution and prolonged power suspension were experienced in most parts of the city.

"These prima facie facts indicate possible violations of Nepra-administered laws, codes, standards and other applicable documents by K-Electric," says the statement by the regulatory body.

The statement said that the K-Electric has apparently violated Nepra rules and regulations, therefore, inquiry has been started against the power utility and inquiry committee has also been constituted.

"Nepra has taken cognizance of these incidents and has ordered a formal investigation under Section 27A of the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 against K-Electric to ascertain the underlying facts leading to the fatal and non-fatal accidents and to determine whether any violation or non-compliance of law and applicable documents has been committed by K-Electric, which caused loss of life and suspension of power supply to consumers. Senior Nepra officers have been appointed as investigating officers in the matter," said the statement.

The committee will hold inquiry into deaths and submit inquiry report within 15 days, says the statement.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2019.