MADURAI: Six months have passed since a 16-year old girl died due to electrocution at Kodikulam in Usilampatti, but officials of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) have not completed their investigation, which has deprived the family of compensation.
On January 5, the girl Ananya went to the terrace to dry clothes, and came into contact with a sagging high tension power line that passed close to the house and died.
Her father Arumugam told TNIE that he had complained about the sagging power line, but no action was taken, Further, he said TNPDCL collected copy of the FIR, Ananya’s Aadhaar, ect, a day after she died, but were yet to complete their inquiry. Sources said victims of electrocution are eligible to receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
Arumugam told TNIE “Even when we were constructing the house in 2022, I noticed the HT line passing just six feet away from the terrace. I informed EB officials, but they didn’t rectify it.
In June 2025, the HT line sagged and was just two feet away. I alerted officials again, yet there was no action.
Unfortunately, my daughter came into contact with the line while going to the terrace on January 5. Officials who showed concern a day after my daughter’s death, are not responding now.”
Ananya’s uncle J Rajasekharan said that she wanted to be a teacher.
“Ananya was determined to change society in the form of educating others. She used to take classes for children in the neighbourhood in the evening hours. The day after her death, officials from EB office in Vikkiramangalam which comes under Samayanallur Division, promised to get compensation and collected document copies. Now they refused to entertain any queries. We suspect they lost the documents.”
Speaking to TNIE, TNPDCL (Madurai) chief engineer P Padmavathy said, “The case is with the Internal Tribunal of TNPDCL. Based on the outcome of the inquiry, action would be decided.”
