The Hindu : NDMC employee's family left in the lurch

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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NDMC employee's family left in the lurch

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI MAY 20. Criminal negligence on the part of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) authorities has left a family of four in the lurch as its only bread-earner died for want of timely treatment. Though the deceased received the much needed costly injection, said to be worth Rs.16,000, it was too late as he succumbed to severe burn injuries after struggling for life for six days.

On May 13, Prem Singh, who was working as a jointer mate with the NDMC's Electrical Department, was called for testing work at the Council's newly-constructed 11 kv sub-station at Connaught Place. Employees allege that officials at the sub-station neither ordered shutting down of power line during testing nor other precautions were taken.

It is alleged that Prem Singh first refused for testing work but later reluctantly agreed to do so. But as he started work, there was a violent burst at the sub-station and Prem Singh was badly burnt. "Immediately after the accident, all the officials fled from the site. It were we who rushed badly the worker, who had 70 per cent burn injuries, to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital,'' alleged the NDMC Workers' Federation chief, Ganga Ram.

For the next six days, Prem Singh was in the hospital fighting for his life. "As his condition deteriorated on Monday, doctors asked to arrange for an injection worth Rs.16,000. We approached senior NDMC officials, but they delayed in giving us the money. This delay in getting the injection proved crucial as Prem Singh died within a couple of hours,'' alleged Mr. Ram.

Agitated workers today gathered at Palika Kendra and those with the Electrical Department even boycotted work for the entire day. The Federation leaders also met the NDMC Chairman, R. Narayanaswami, who agreed to their demands -- Rs.35,000 for Prem Singh's family, job for his widow, an official accommodation and admission to his children in the Council schools. It was only after this that the deceased was cremated.

Stating that a two-member inquiry committee has been set up to investigate the matter, the Federation chief demanded that all those officials, including the executive engineer, who were present at the time of the accident should be immediately suspended to ensure a free and fair investigation into the matter.

When contacted, the DCP (New Delhi), Manoj Kumar Lall, said, "We have received a complaint from the Federation in this regard and police are investigating into the matter.''

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