CANACONA: He was given the job barely four years ago after his father had died in harness, but destiny proved cruel for a 33-yr-old lineman from Char-Rasta, Canacona, who was electrocuted while on duty at Balli late Wednesday night.
Incidentally, Rosario Fernandes had got compensatory appointment as a wireman/lineman with the Electricity Department after his father Raimond died in harness with the same department about four years ago.
Close family friends remember how Raimond had survived not just one mishap, but at least five different accidents while on duty, including a fall from an electricity pole and dangling to electricity wires after coming into contact with live wires.
With the death of two members of the Fernandes family within a gap of four years, uncertainty now prevails over the future of a young widow and her toddler, who will be two years in a few days, as they are not sure if they would be allowed to retain the Electricity Department quarters.
Incidentally, this is the second fatality and third mishap involving linemen on duty in different parts of the State within the last six days.
According to department sources, the incident occurred at 11.15 pm at Bendurdem while Rosario Fernandes, who was accompanied by another staff member was closing the ABC (Air Break Switch) and strong/high current passed through his body, causing instant death.
“Rosario, a sincere and efficient department staffer, along with another staff member had gone to Bendurdem, due to a fault at the 11 KV Balli feeder of Cuncolim Sub-Division. Due to very high leakage of voltage, current passed through his body while he was closing the ABC on the ground itself and he fell down,” Executive Engineer (Electricity) Santosh Lolayekar said.
“As an immediate relief, the Department will give an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to his family, while government has shown a positive response to our staff request to provide compensatory appointment to his wife,” Lolayekar said.
Rosario is survived by his wife and a daughter, who will be 2 years in a few days.
