JAMMU: In a tragic incident, a daily wager lineman lost his life after falling from an electricity pole while repairing a power fault in the Janipur area of Jammu on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as Joginder, a resident of Nardani, who was working as a daily wager with the Power Development Department (PDD). According to his co-worker, Joginder had climbed the electric pole to repair a fault when he reportedly came in contact with an electric current and fell to the ground.
His helper, Vikram, who was present at the site, said that the team was repairing a broken neutral wire when the incident occurred. “He asked me to hold the black wire. As I turned to do so, I saw him fall from the pole. It appeared that he received an electric shock before falling,” he said.
The helper further alleged that daily wager workers are not provided with adequate safety equipment such as insulated gloves, safety belts, or other protective gear while carrying out hazardous electrical repair work.
Another daily wager who reached the hospital later said the workers had reportedly obtained a shutdown before beginning the repair work. However, the exact cause of the accident—whether it was due to an electric shock or the fall itself—will be established after the official investigation.
Joginder was rushed to Government Medical College (GMC), Bakshi Nagar, where doctors declared him dead.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns over the safety of daily wager employees engaged in high-risk electrical maintenance work. Fellow workers have demanded better safety measures and protective equipment to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Joginder is survived by his wife and family members. His untimely death has left his family, colleagues, and the local community in deep mourning. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
About the Author
