Bhubaneswar: At least four engineers, two each from the Energy and Rural Development Departments have been suspended for their negligence in duty a day after ten persons were electrocuted after a bus they were travelling in came in contact with overhead 11Kv live wire near Mendharajpur village under Golanthara police limits in Ganjam.
Energy Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra told media persons here that Berhampur Electrical Division JE Debasish Nayak and SDO Biswa Ranjan Mohapatra have been placed under suspension along with Berhampur RD Division SDO and JE for their negligence in duty resulting in the mishap.
At least 10 people died of electrocution and 20 sustained injuries when a bus came in contact with a low-hanging high-tension wire and caught fire near Mendharajpur village, on Sunday. The private bus was carrying around 40 passengers, most of whom were from Dankalpadu village. They were on their way to Chikarada village to attend an engagement ceremony.
Meanwhile, the power distributor Southco blamed the RD Department for the Sunday’s tragedy.
In the preliminary enquiry report of the mishap, Southco said, In July 2018, the RD Department converted the rural road to a concrete road almost filling 3-4 feet and causing less ground clearance of the road where the accident occurred.
