Deaths from uncontrolled electric shocks in Madhesh

Manisha Sahani, 30, from Garuda Municipality-3 in Rautahat district, is still traumatised by an incident that happened on April 3.

That day, her husband Manoj Sahani, a teacher at Raksirang school in Makwanpur district, had returned on leave to Malahi Colony. While he was trying to operate an electric water pump to irrigate a vegetable farm, he received an electric shock. Manoj, 40, collapsed after touching the pump wire. He died instantly.

“An incredible tragedy has happened in our life,” Manisha said. “The only breadwinner of the family has passed away.”

Manoj completed his master’s degree and was appointed as a teacher at Kalika High School in Raksirang-9 a few years ago. “I sent him to the campus and made him a teacher by selling vegetables,” said Bishwanath, Manoj’s elderly father. “What tragedy is bigger than losing your beloved son?”

A similar tragedy occurred on May 10 at Ram Mahato’s house in Ishwarpur Municipality-9 of Sarlahi district. An internet cable attached to an electric pole in front of his house was hanging low. Ram rushed to help a boy from his neighbourhood after he got stuck in the cable and fell. Ram received an electric shock while pulling the cable from the side.

His wife Kusum rushed to the spot seeing her husband lying on the ground. Kusum managed to pull him out of the electric wire. But she also received an electric shock, collapsed and died in front of the critically injured Ram.

Ram gets emotional every time he sees the electric pole in front of his house. “I remember the tragic incident when I saw the electric pole. She saved me, but I couldn’t save her. I can never forget that incident,” Ram said. After the incident, he was rushed to Sarlahi District Hospital where he regained consciousness after 12 hours. He suffered serious injuries to his arms and legs. His legs are not like before.

Ram expressed his anger at the internet company for the unmanaged cable. Man Bahadur Shreshta, a police inspector at Bayalbas police station, however, has a different version. “An investigation has shown that the victims’ family had themselves cut the internet cable,” he said. “We would initiate legal action against the internet company if they are found guilty.”

Many people in Madhesh province have experienced the fate of Manisha and Ram. The tragedy of Dinesh Sahani of Garuda Municipality-2 is even more pitiful. Dinesh and his wife Sugandhi Devi had gone out of the house for work on September 31, 2022 when their 14-year-old daughter Amariya returned from school. She was thirsty. She wanted to drink cold water from the well. So she tried to set up the water pump and was given an electric shock.

Neighbours informed Dinesh and Sugandhi Devi about the incident. Sugadhi fell unconscious on the way and rushed to Garuda Hospital. “I sent her (Amariya) to school in the morning and went to work. But I could not talk to her anymore,” Dinesh said. He immediately removed the electric water pump from the tap and informed the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) about the incident. He complained that the NEA did not pay attention to the incident.

Electric shock incidents are on the rise in eight districts of Madhesh province. “Deaths due to electric shock are increasing mainly due to the negligence of electricity authorities and carelessness of local residents,” said Ambika Sahani, the district president of Garuda-3. “Electric cables are hanging quite low, but the electricity authorities are not paying attention to it. I have drawn the attention of the electricity authorities several times about this, but to no avail.” According to him, people in rural areas are not aware of the safe use of electricity and the NEA has not launched any awareness campaign in rural areas of Garuda municipality.

According to the data available at the Madhesh Provincial Electricity Authority office in Janakpur, a total of 449 people have died of electrocution in Madhesh province in the last five years. Most of the incidents were caused by electrical short circuit in electric water pumps.

“Deaths due to electric shocks are increasing in Madhesh province,” said Munindra Thakur, head of the Nepal Electricity Authority. “People are not careful while using electricity. Many people have died due to negligence and lack of vigilance.” He said the Nepal Electricity Authority pays Rs 500,000 as compensation to the family of the deceased if the incident occurs due to the negligence of the electricity authority.

“The NEA forms an inquiry committee after the victim lodges a complaint,” Thakur said. “The committee, comprising representatives from the district administration and the local unit, investigates the incident. Compensation is paid if the incident is due to the negligence of the NEA.”

The Madhesh provincial office of the Nepal Electricity Authority said it had paid compensation to the families of 35 victims killed by the electric shock.

“Awareness programmes should be launched mainly in rural areas to minimise incidents of electric shock,” said Yuvaraj Bhattarai, Minister of Industries and Tourism of Madhesh province. “The National Energy Agency is more responsible for monitoring incidents of electrocution.”