THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Despite receiving prior alerts through its emergency helpline, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) continues to delay action in critical situations. This was seen in Vattiyoorkavu, where a complaint by a local resident about a dangerously hanging tree branch on a live electricity line was acted upon only about 20 hours later. The back-to-back electrocution deaths and recurring delays point out to what many see as a systemic failure in KSEB’s emergency response mechanism.
The alert by a consumer from Vattiyoorkavu was raised at 2.30pm on Friday, through KSEB’s emergency number (9496 010101), after the resident noticed a mango tree branch from a neighbour’s compound hanging precariously on to a live line. The resident also sent photographs and voice message via WhatsApp to the KSEB’s emergency number as requested by the board’s emergency alert team.
Though the complaint was promptly acknowledged by KSEB via WhatsApp and forwarded to the assistant executive engineer the same day, the emergency team only reached the site around 10am the next day to cut the tree branches. However, many residents in the area opined that the delay could have easily led to another tragedy, especially since just a day later, in the early hours of Sunday, a similar situation turned fatal in Nedumangad.
Meanwhile, KSEB safety director P Surendra said, “We are receiving a huge number of safety complaints on a daily basis, especially during the monsoon season, which could have contributed to the delay in addressing the complaint from Vattiyoorkavu. At the same time, the landowner also has a responsibility in preventing such unsafe conditions.”
Dismissing the justification, residents pointed out that blaming property owners does not absolve the electricity board of its duty to act promptly on verified alerts, especially when the danger to life is clear. “Passing the buck to the landowner doesn’t justify this kind of delay. If KSEB is short-staffed or under pressure, then the government must step in and ensure lives aren’t lost,” said Sanjeev Nair, a resident of Vattiyoorkavu.
Many residents said that the consistent pattern of inaction, despite advance warnings, has raised serious concerns about the KSEB’s preparedness to address life-threatening electrical hazards.
