Nagpur: A lineman was killed after falling off an electric pole at Ranala in New Kamptee area on Wednesday afternoon.
The deceased, Bharat Rambhau Vahile (32) was a native of Parseoni taluka. Preliminary investigation revealed that Bharat was hired on contract basis by a private company which provided skilled manpower to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) on an outsourced basis against vacant posts of line staff. However, the contractors allegedly did not provide any proper safety material to the contractual workers.
On Wednesday afternoon, Bharat climbed the electric pole with the help of a ladder to repair the fault. Three MSEDCL staffers also were standing near the pole. When Bharat was getting down, he came in contact with a live wire. He was electrocuted and fell off the pole. Bharat was rushed to a hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
MSEDCL officers said that linemen climb poles only after the supply is switched off. However, reverse current could sometimes return in the line resulting in such accidents, they added.
New Kamptee Police registered an accidental death case and initiated an investigation.
