Annual Report 2012-2013 f) Electrocution Cases 25. Electrocution of Nine Passengers in Saiha District, Mizoram (Case No. 8/16/0/2011) 4.183 The Commission received a complaint that a passenger bus carrying 36 passengers came in contact with a live overhead electric cable between New Serkawr and New Latawh in Saiha District of Mizoram on 25 March 2011 causing death of nine passengers. 4.184 According to the report received from the Under Secretary to the Government of Mizoram (Power and Electricity Department), there were many shortcomings in the maintenance of the electric lines. For instance : (i) 11 KV overhead line ran dangerously low above the road. (ii) The vertical cable of the 11 KV conductor above the ground was 3.35 meter whereas it should not be less than 4.5 meters. (iii) The double pole supporting the line was leaning to the extent of 30 degrees. It was so because the pole was not supported by a stay and was found uprooted from the ground. This reduced the vertical clearance from the ground. (iv) Had the stay for the double pole location been intact, the consequent lowering of the conductor would not have happened and the tragic incident could have been avoided. (v) The 11 KV line was constructed during the year 1993-1994 when there was only fair-weather jeep road in the area. Improvement of this road was taken up by the PWD in the year 2009 and it was likely that the stay for the double pole was uprooted while carrying out earth excavation on the road. 4.185 The report also revealed that some utensils piled up on the top of the bus came in contact with the 11 KV overhead line. 4.186 Another report dated 7 December 2011 was also received from the Under Secretary to the Government of Mizoram (Home Department) forwarding a magisterial inquiry report and informed that financial assistance of ` 10,000 each was given to the families of the nine deceased persons. It also informed that the police has registered a case which is under investigation. 4.187 The Inquiry Magistrate found that the electric cable was hanging low and due to the heavy cyclone which lashed the area a week before may be the reason for the same. During the investigation it was found that since the Junior Engineer (P&E Division), Lawngtlai, In-charge of the 11 KV line was responsible for gross negligence in maintaining the line, the case is pending for his arrest since he is out of station. NHRC 57