In line of duty: Two linemen electrocuted in AJK

MUZAFFARABAD:

Two employees of the electricity department were electrocuted in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Sunday.

Police sources told The Express Tribune that Tariq Janjua, a lineman, was repairing the main transmission line in Kahokot of Hajeera tehsil, some 190km from here.

Suddenly power supply from the main grid station of Rawalakot was restored. Janjua received a serve electric shock and died on the spot.

The incident prompted a protest by the local people in Khaygala, who demanded the state government to punish the officials for resuming power supply in the transmission line during repair work.

The local people and traders also collected over Rs100,000 for financial support of the lineman’s family.

Meanwhile, Abdul Qayyum, another lineman, died separately in Kotli, some 230km from here.

The police said that Qayyum was also repairing the main transmission line on the suburbs of Kotli city. During the repairing work the man also received electric shock.

The lineman was the lone breadwinner of a seven-member family, including an old ailing father.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1^st, 2015.