Chennai: There were two electrocution deaths recently at Chitlapakkam and Mugalivakkam. The situation is bad in Velacheri as well. Residents are used to seeing exposed junction boxes and heavy duty cables coiled on pavements. Very often, unaware of the danger, people step on the cables while walking and riding two-wheelers.
Residents of Velacheri took the issue to the attention of Greater Chennai Corproation, following which its Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADE) wrote a letter to the Tamilnadu Electricity Board asking them to take steps to fix the exposed junction boxes and cables lying around in the neighbourhood.
Office-bearers of Annai Indira Nagar Residents Welfare Association clicked pictures of danger lurking in the form of slit cables, uncovered junction boxes in Velacheri and Taramnai and sent them to the Corporation Executive Engineer Murali, other civic officials, Velacheri police, Electricity board and the MLA.
Following this, Chennai Corporation’s Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADE) wrote a letter attaching the photos asking the TNEB to take action.
It is a common sight on the pavements of Taramani Main Road and in Vijaya Nagar to see cables hanging, exposed and junction boxes lying open on the sides the Main Road. The cable sleeves are slit. When it rains, nobody knows what could happen. The junction boxes are lying open, even school children walk near them. Dheena, a 15-year-old, died just by stepping on the rain water. We are thankful to the corporation officials of zone 13 on behalf of Velacheri residents, for taking the issue to the attention of the EB. But we want action to be taken. The boxes need to be sealed or closed. The cables must be made undergroundĀ, says Kumararaja, vice-president of Annai Indira Nagar Residents Welfare Association.
It may be noted that Sethuraj (42) from Chitlapakkam lost his life after an electric pole came crashing down on him, Dheena Senthil suffered a fatal shock after coming in contact with an exposed live wire in Mugalivakkam.