Cable TV
Bangalore cable tragedy: Officials unclear about third probe
BANGALORE: Karnataka government officials are of the opinion that another inquiry report to probe the circumstances that led to a seven-year old boy’s death is not required, as per media reports.Earlier, Bangalore Electric Supply Company (Bescom) and the chief electrical inspector to the government (CEIG) had submitted their inquiry reports.
On 15 July, Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh is purported to have ordered a third probe when he visited the boy’s house. According to authorities, it is unclear whether or not he meant another inquiry by principal secretary Ranganath.
As reported earlier, Bescom had initiated a cable cutting frenzy holding a wrongly strung cable TV wire responsible for the tragic event. A compete blackout of TV by the cable operators was averted with CM’s intervention.
A preliminary inquiry initiated by Bescom’s chief engineer (CE) had found BCC responsible for the tragedy, along with the concerned Bescom staff.
Ranganath had obtained the details of the two investigations and a report from the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation (KPTC). Action has been initiated against the four Bescom persons named – an assistant executive engineer, engineer, a junior engineer and a linesman, all of whom have been suspended and are facing an inquiry.
According to reports, 20 August has been fixed as the deadline to complete the comprehensive review of all hazardous cables. Ranganath is to hand over the KPTC’s report to the CM early next week, based on which the CM is expected to pass orders.
