With four lives lost to electrocution, residents of Madhavaram live in fear

The residents of KKR Nagar First Main Road in Madhavaram have been living in fear of electrocution for more than two decades due to overhead high tension wires. On this stretch, there have been four cases of electrocution by overhead high tension wires and residents want officials of the electricity department to take steps to have the high tension power lines removed before many more lives are lost.

P. Kasirajan, president, KKR Nagar Residents Welfare Association, said the high tension wires had been a cause for concern for the residents from 1991 when the layout was formed.

Previous cases

He said the electricity wires were located within striking distance of several houses; and over the years, a 13-year-old girl, a youth and two construction workers have been electrocuted in separate incidents.

Residents complained that despite making several representations to the officials of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco), no steps had been taken to remove the electricity wires.

Other complaints residents have made include the electric poles carrying these electricity wires being worn-out and the high tension wires tending to sag lowly at several places.

At touching distance

A resident of the street showing the low-hanging electricity wires complained about the danger posed by these wires, which are within touching distance.

Residents also point out how public funds had been wasted as a result of this problem — following several representations about the danger posed by overhead lines, the electricity department installed underground pipes a few years ago to have the overhead lines shifted.

But officials of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) have failed to take steps to shift the lines.

They complained that despite representations to Tangedco, no steps have been taken