NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION returning on a truck after a visit to Baba Sher Shah Wali shrine for prayers. Few of the passengers sat on the tool box. When truck driver was reversing the truck, one of the villagers Shinda Singh, who stood on the tool box, suddenly came in contact with electric wires overhead. All the persons sitting on the tool box were affected by the electrical current. Shinda Singh, Roshan Singh, Harpal Singh and Nishan Singh died in the government hospital and six persons received burn injuries. 4.78 The Deputy Commissioner, Tarantaran, in his report, submitted that four persons had died on the spot and six others were injured in the accident. To compensate all the affected persons, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Punjab has sanctioned ` 5,50,000/-, i.e., ` 1,00,000/- each has been paid to the next-of-kin of the deceased persons and ` 25,000/- each has been given to the six injured persons. According to another report from O/o Chief Electrical Inspector to the Government of Punjab who got an inquiry conducted into the incident, the vertical clearance of the line was not as specified under the Rules, the sag of the line was loose and no guarding was provided under this 11 KV line. It was also stated that loose sag of 11 KV line was the cause of this accident. It was concluded that this accident could have been avoided, had the supplier erected and maintained the installation in a proper and safe way. By not doing so, the provisions of Regulation 58 and 70 of Central Electricity Authority Regulations, 2010, were violated by the supplier. 4.79 Upon consideration of the above reports, the Commission took the view that a clear case of violation of human rights of the deceased persons and injured persons was made out. As reported ` 1,00,000/- each has been paid to the next-of-kin of the deceased persons and ` 25,000/- each has been paid to the six injured. In the opinion of the Commission, the amount paid to the next-of-kin of the deceased is not adequate. A notice u/s 18(a)(i) of the PHRA, 1993, was issued to the Chief Secretary, Government of Punjab to show cause as to why the Commission should not recommend additional compensation to the next-of-kin of the deceased persons, who lost their lives due to negligence of the Electricity Department. 4.80 Since no reply was submitted by the State Government. The Commission on 23.01.2017 recommended to the Government of Punjab, through its Chief Secretary, to pay additional compensation of ` 1,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) each to the next-of-kin of the deceased. Proof of payment in this case is awaited. g) Pollution and Environment Cases 14. Alleged Pollution Caused by Karoli Plastic Bottles Manufacturing Industry, which is established in Residential Area Inhabited by People Belonging to Scheduled Caste, in Village Abhineniguntapalem, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh (Case No.1046/1/6/2016) ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017 57