Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 22: Two Power Development Department (PDD) employees including a Junior Engineer who were critically injured in a transformer explosion at Budgam Receiving Station earlier this month succumbed at SMHS Hospital Srinagar.
The deceased have been identified as Hitesh, a Junior Engineer (JE), and Manzoor Ahmad Dar, a technician from Khanpora area of Budgam. Both were working on routine maintenance when the transformer suddenly exploded, leaving them with severe burn injuries.
Immediately after the incident, both were rushed to District Hospital Budgam and later shifted to SMHS Hospital Srinagar due to the seriousness of their condition. Despite receiving intensive medical care for over a week, they could not survive.
The deaths have sparked concern among employees and union members about safety measures for field staff. Many are now demanding strict safety protocols, better training, and protective equipment for those working with high-voltage power infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Sachin Tickoo, General Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Electrical Engineering Graduates Association (JKEEGA), in a statement demanded a high-level inquiry into what he called the “suspicious circumstances” surrounding the deaths.
“I strongly demand an inquiry into the suspicious circumstances in which our JE Hitesh Wali and Technician Manzoor have fallen as victims,” he said, adding the loss of our engineer and tech staff is a blot on our PDD, and collectively we have failed to be sensitive to their post-burn rehabilitation.”
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