Palamu electrician’s death sparks negligence row at Tarhassi PHC
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Daltonganj, August 31: The death of a private electrician following electrocution has triggered protests and allegations of medical…
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THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, August 31: The death of a private electrician following electrocution has triggered protests and allegations of medical negligence at the Tarhassi Primary Health Centre in Palamu, with the deceased’s family blaming the health facility and an ambulance breakdown for the death.
Ashish Kumar, who was working as a private electrician, was reportedly electrocuted while installing a submersible pump on Sunday.
His family members alleged that he was brought to the Tarhassi PHC at around 12.25 pm, but was not provided oxygen or adequate emergency treatment. They further alleged that the 108 ambulance taking him to Medinirai Medical College and Hospital (MMCH), Daltonganj, ran out of fuel and became stranded a few kilometres from the health centre.
However, Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Srivastava disputed the allegations, saying Ashish was brought to the PHC in a dead condition.
According to the Civil Surgeon, the medical staff faced an agitated crowd at the health centre following the incident.
He said that although the patient had been brought dead, health officials referred the case to MMCH Daltonganj through a 108 ambulance amid pressure from the family and others present.
The Civil Surgeon, however, acknowledged that the ambulance broke down a few kilometres from the Tarhassi PHC.
He maintained that there was no evidence so far to establish negligence on the part of the health centre staff or ambulance personnel.
The ambulance breakdown, however, further angered the deceased’s relatives and friends, who accused the health system of failing to provide timely emergency care.
Family stages protest
On Monday, family members and supporters of the deceased staged an angry demonstration at the Tarhassi PHC.
They demanded employment for one member of Ashish’s family as compensation following his death.
The Civil Surgeon said that if a formal petition seeking employment is submitted to his office, it would be forwarded to the district administration for consideration.
The incident has once again raised questions over emergency medical response and ambulance services in remote parts of Palamu, particularly when victims of electrocution require immediate medical intervention.
Interestingly, this is the second reported electrocution death in the area involving a private electricity worker. In the earlier incident, a private electricity fixer died while allegedly attempting to repair a transformer without authorisation.
The latest incident has brought renewed attention to the risks faced by private electricians and mechanics working on electrical installations, often without formal safety safeguards.
