An avoidable tragedy
The entire nation
no doubt would have been stunned with shock and grief at the
tragedy in Pathulhatha where three children of the same family
who were in group of 10 others plucking rambutan were
electrocuted when the iron pole they were using made contact
with a high tension power line running through the higher
branches of the tree.
This is not the first time that death by electrocution has
been reported. In fact, this has now become an all too common
occurrence. But what sets apart the present tragedy from the
rest is the culpability of the Ceylon Electricity Board in these
deaths which could easily have been prevented if not for the
gross negligence of its duty by the CEB.
No less than a high powered inquiry is called for to get to
the bottom of the matter and to deal severely with those
responsible for failing to attend to a simple task such as
cutting a few branches to remove a obstruction to a high powered
power line.
Today, the entire village of Pathulhatha is in mourning. Nay
it should be cause for mourning by the entire nation at this
senseless loss of lives of three innocent children.
The Pathulhatha tragedy no doubt has sunk deep into the minds
of the people for its pathos.
Three children of the same family have been suddenly snatched
away from their parents like a bolt from the blue. Such
tragedies largely went unnoticed during the war years when life
became a cheap commodity.
Now with killings and bombings no longer an everyday staple
other crime are increasingly gaining the attention of the
public. For indeed, a crime it was on the part of the Ceylon
Electricity Board whose wanton negligence resulted in snuffing
out three young lives in the first flush of their bloom.
The fate that befell young Sandamali, Madhuka and Saranga (a
brother and sister duo plus cousin) is also an eye opener to
most parents who today tend to be careless. The children who
were plucking rambutan were 10 year olds and had apparently been
left to their own devices.
A little more parental attention could have saved the
tragedy. If the Pathulhatha has brought home one message it is
for more vigilance on the part of parents and elders on their
young offspring.
This though in no way exonerates the CEB who stands guilty
for criminal negligence and lethargy.
It should collectively hold its head in shame and beat its
breast for contributing to this tragedy in no small measure.
We often come across in newspapers CEB notices announcing
power cuts in designated areas for “urgent repair work.”
One would have thought that clearing obstructions across high
tension power lines are part of this “urgent repair work.” But
apparently not. Had it been so, the high tension power lines
that brought death in Pathulhatha would have been cleared of the
rambutan branches that concealed them from view and three
innocent lives spared.
Paradoxically these branches were cut off and cleared after
the tragedy indicating the branches should not have been there
in the first place.
Therefore, the CEB cannot escape culpability for this crime
and those responsible should be brought to book and the severest
punishment meted out to the guilty party as a deterrent against
apathy and negligence.
Ideally, an inquiry should be ordered from the top to
ascertain which officer or officers of in the Ratnapura
Electricity Depot was responsible for failing to order the
clearing of obstructions to power lines or if any such order had
not been carried out by CEB crew. No room should be allowed for
passing the buck.
Death is one thing but ‘wilful murder’ is another. What
happened on that fateful Saturday in Pathulhatha is nothing
short of ‘wilful murder’. Justice should be done by the three
innocent children who lost their lives.
Not only obstructions caused by tree branches, today it is
common to see live wires loosely dangling from electricity posts
posing a real danger to road users. Especially after heavy rains
one sees electricity cables hanging from transformers and those
not alert run the risk of electrocution.
The CEB should take prompt action to repair such damages and
a hotline opened for the public to provide information on such
instances. The people pay huge electricity bills to the CEB
expecting an all round service and not be the cause of their
deaths through negligence as witnessed in Pathulhatha. |