PONDA: Following the tragic electrocution death of 24-year-old Pramod Naik on the Bethora-Borim NH last week, residents in Ponda demand accountability from authorities for negligence leading to the incident. The lack of action to shift high tension lines, absence of warning signs, and failure to cut power supply at the site were cited as contributing factors to the fatal accident.
Demanding justice, locals urged for the registration of an FIR against concerned department officials. The postmortem report confirmed electrocution as the cause of death. The victim was the sole breadwinner of his family.
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In response to public outcry, authorities have belatedly taken action by erecting barricades and installing warning ribbons at the site. The incident occurred on March 15 when Naik, returning from work, stopped to urinate near Mhalshi Curti, unaware of the danger posed by high tension lines passing just 1.5 metres above the ground level. The ongoing road widening project, involving land filling in the valley, has elevated the lines dangerously close to the road surface, making them a lethal hazard.
Local resident Sandeep Parkar emphasized the need for legal action against those responsible, particularly contractors and engineers for negligence in shifting the high tension lines prior to the road work. He highlighted the absence of warning barricades exacerbating the risk.
Ponda Police Inspector Tushar Lotlikar confirmed the receipt of the victim’s postmortem report attributing the cause of death to electrocution. However, investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of responsibility in the matter.
