Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 11 April 2025
In a tragic incident that has raised serious questions about workplace safety protocols, a 38-year-old labourer succumbed to injuries sustained in an electrical accident at the MES Compound in Campbell Bay. The victim, Samar Mondal, a resident of Loknath Colony, Dollygunj, was employed by M/s Delta Electrical and was working under the supervision of Muni Raj when the incident occurred.
According to the First Information Report (FIR No. 0014/2025) lodged at the Campbell Bay Police Station, the accident took place on April 2, 2025, at around 11:00 AM. Mondal was painting a two-pole transformer structure when he accidentally came into contact with a live electrical wire. The electrocution caused him to fall and suffer severe burns on his chest, abdomen, and hands.
Following the incident, immediate first aid was administered and he was rushed to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Campbell Bay in a vehicle from INS Baaz. Due to the critical nature of his injuries, Mondal was unable to provide a statement at the time and was subsequently referred to GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair for advanced treatment.
On April 5, 2025, Assistant Sub-Inspector Muthu Kannan recorded the victim’s statement at the hospital. Mondal revealed that he had been brought to Campbell Bay on March 11, 2025, by Supervisor Muni Raj for the purpose of electrical pole painting. He began work the next day, and on April 2, while painting, the power supply was abruptly restored, resulting in the electric shock.
Sadly, Mondal succumbed to his injuries during treatment at around 1:30 PM on April 9, 2025. A subsequent inquiry determined that the accident occurred due to gross negligence on the part of Supervisor Muni Raj, who failed to implement adequate safety measures before allowing Mondal to work on the transformer.
Based on the findings, Campbell Bay Police have registered a case under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which pertains to causing death by negligence.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of enforcing safety protocols, particularly in high-risk electrical work environments.