BENGALURU: Residents of Maruthi Nagar in Madiwala, southeast Bengaluru, are fuming. Ignoring their protests, Bescom put up an 11kV line and a transformer just metres from their houses and commercial structures. On Sunday afternoon, a 25-year-old man from Tamil Nadu was electrocuted when he came in contact with the line on II Cross.

Gauri Shankar had rented a room on the first floor of Sea Pearl Lodge on Saturday night.He was in the city with a friend on a business visit. Around 1.30pm on Sunday, Gauri Shankar was speaking on his cellphone on the balcony of his first-floor room.The transformer was just a few metres away . His friend, who was inside, suddenly heard a noise, as also neighbours. "We rushed out to find Gauri Shankar lying unconscious on the balcony floor," said Leonard, who lives next door.Gauri Shankar was dead by the time he was taken to Sri Venkateshwara Hospital, near the lodge. "We have booked a case of negligence against Bescom," po lice said. It is still not clear how Gauri Shankar came in contact with the wire, considering that although the transformer and electricity line run close to the building, he would still have to reach out to touch it.

"I have a two-year-old child and am terrified when he goes out to play. The high-tension wire was put up in this largely residential area about four years ago, after which the transformer was built. We were against it but nobody paid attention," said Leonard, a supplies manager with an MNC. There is no grill or any barricade surrounding the transformer. "Bescom officials and local councillor BN Manjunath Reddy were here with police soon after the incident.They are now talking about insulating the wire," he said.

Manjunath Reddy did not respond to calls.