A 48-year-old man died after coming in contact with an electrified pole in Safeda Colony, Nayagaon, early this morning. The victim, Mewa Lal, was a father of three children. This is the second electrocution death in the same area in two months.
What Happened in the Nayagaon Electrocution Incident
The incident took place around 5:30 am amid rain. Mewa Lal touched a pole that had become electrified near a pool of stagnant water. According to residents, he remained in the water for nearly one and a half hours because no one came forward to help him.
Area councillor Bhupinder Singh was informed about the situation. He called officials from the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). The officials reached the spot and first cut the power supply to the area before retrieving the body.
Hospital Response and Police Action
After the body was pulled out, the victim was taken to a hospital. Doctors at the hospital declared him dead on arrival. The police then shifted the body to the mortuary of the Kharar Subdivisional Hospital for further procedures.
Second Electrocution Death in Nayagaon in Two Months
This is not an isolated case in Nayagaon. An eight-year-old girl was electrocuted in a similar incident near Kumaon Colony at Nayagaon on August 8. That earlier death involved the same kind of hazard — contact with an electrified structure in the area.
The repeat of such an incident within two months raises serious concerns about electrical safety in the locality. Residents have pointed out that the delay in response made the situation worse, as the victim lay in the water for a long time before any action was taken.
Our Take: Electrocution Deaths Demand Urgent Safety Checks
To put it plainly, two deaths in two months from the same kind of accident is not a coincidence — it is a warning. The fact that Mewa Lal remained in stagnant water for 90 minutes because no one came forward shows a failure on multiple levels. First, the electrified pole should never have been left in a condition that made it dangerous. Second, when the incident happened, the response was slow.
The councillor did the right thing by calling PSPCL officials, and the power cut before retrieval was a sensible step. But the bigger question is why such hazards are still present in residential areas. The earlier death of an eight-year-old girl on August 8 should have already triggered a safety review. It clearly did not.
Authorities need to inspect electrical poles and wiring across Nayagaon, especially in areas prone to waterlogging during rain. Residents should also be educated on how to respond safely to such emergencies — but the primary responsibility lies with the power corporation to ensure that poles are safe and that power lines do not pose a risk to public life.
This is not just about one man's tragic death. It is about preventing the next one. If safety measures are not improved, the phrase "second death in two months" could easily become "third" or "fourth." That is a risk no community should have to live with.