Rs 1 lakh compensated to electrocuted victim

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 11, 2021

The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission received a complaint on 5.8.2019 from Sepolda Syngkli, a resident of Tharia Village, East Khasi Hills that her son (L) Fasting Syngkli died on 18.8.2018 due to electrocution. The electrocution was due to snapping of the 11KV Sohbar Feeder Line allegedly due to rain and lightning resulting in the electrocution of the victim who was a driver of a truck bearing registration No. ML 04-7905 when the victim came in contact with the live wire and was electrocuted.

The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission took cognizance of the case and registered the same vide MHRC Case No. 46/2019 on 14.8.2019. The Commission was of firm view that an inquiry needed to be conducted to ascertain the facts of the alleged negligence on the part of the Department concerned and also fix responsibility on the person/persons that resulted in the unfortunate and avoidable accident. The case was registered by a Single Bench headed by the Acting Chairperson MHRC, PJP Hanaman.

After much delay, the Inquiry Report from the concerned Department regretted that the accident occurred due to an “act of God/force majeure due to heavy rainfall and lightning and had it not existed the incident would not have happen or led to the accident”. In view of the aforesaid, the Commission, in its Division Bench comprising of the Hon’ble Member (Non-Judicial) PJP Hanaman and the Hon’ble Member (Judicial), Bafindalyne Giri passed an Order on 10th November, 2020 directing the Law Officer of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited Corporate Affairs to pay the Ex-Gratia amount of Rs. 1,00,000/- to  Sepolda Syngkli, mother of (L) Fasting Syngkli, of Tharia Village, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya, which has since been disbursed to the mother of the victim vide Cheque No. 24132 dated 14.12.2020 of the Meghalaya Power Distribution Corporation Limited.

The Commission regretted that the matter has been delayed inordinately due to non-submission of the Inquiry Report from the Department, which has resulted in avoidable delay in payment of the Ex-Gratia amount and hardship to the mother of the victim.