This Article is From May 10, 2013

Woman electrocuted in Guwahati

Guwahati: A woman was electrocuted by a live electric wire in Guwahati during heavy rains last night triggering public protest today against the Assam State Electricity Board for its alleged negligence.

One Basanti Devi was returning home after her trip to the market in Anil Nagar area when she came in contact with the live electric wire near the road and died on the spot, police said.

Angered by the incident, the locals staged a protest today by blocking the road and shouting slogans that the ASEB's negligence had led to the woman's death.

The protestors claimed that for over a month they had repeatedly informed the ASEB about the high voltage wire lying on the roadside footpath.

Despite being informed about the danger it posed to the people and about it giving electric shocks to the pedestrians walking on the footpath, they alleged that the power authorities did not respond.

The people demanded compensation to the next of kin of the woman.

Meanwhile, the Kamrup (Metro) district authorities have announced Rs 20,000 compensation to her family.

In another incident, the Assam Human Rights Commission on Thursday recommended to the Assam Government to pay a compensation of Rupees ten lakh to the next of kin of one Binoy Mohan Das who had died after accidentally falling into an unguarded drain in Guwahati in 2011 enroute to his house after office hours.

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