The hapless cases of electrocution in Kashmir especially among the PDD employees have witnessed an overwhelming spike in the recent months. While many have suffered from serious burn injuries on duty, a considerable number of these unfortunate incidents have also resulted in loss of precious lives.
Even today, a PDD lineman repairing faulty electrical wire in Muqam Village of Kreeri, Baramulla received electric shocks due to which he was later on shifted to Government Medical College for treatment. This is not a sole incident.
On February 4th, Friday three PDD employees suffered from 20 percent burns while they were busy repairing a service line in Rawalpora.
Appallingly, most of these employees are casual based skilled labourers who do not have access to benefits given to a permanent employee in case of an accidental death.
Most of the time, families of these deceased employees have to appeal for adequate ex-gratia relief which can never be sufficient enough to provide a dignified livelihood to them.
There have been calls from all quarters, political and social both, to provide similar benefits to such employees in case of any ominous eventualities.
Besides, the casual employees working relentlessly in PDD should be given permanent job security after serving the people for more than a decade.
This adroit section needs to be provided with pay hikes and all allied benefits given to the other government employees.
Moreover, the government must address the issue recurring electrocution incidents in the valley that points towards a sadistic negligence. The necessary equipment and protective gears must be provided to the employees working while repairing the wires and transformers so that these heartrending incidents are stopped in pre-emptively.
