• CESC Junior Powerman Karthik suffers severe electric shock during maintenance work
• Lapse in following safety protocol suspected

Mysuru: A Junior Powerman attached to Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) sustained severe burn injuries after suffering an electric shock while at work in Jockey Quarters near Kurubarahalli Circle yesterday. The critically injured Junior Powerman is 32-year-old M. Karthik, a native of Nanjapura village in Hunsur taluk, who was serving at CESC Vidyaranyapuram Division.

As a result of the incident, Karthik lost his left wrist apart of suffering severe burn injuries on his stomach.

Currently, he is undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a private hospital in city.

Meanwhile, speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, CESC Managing Director (MD) M.S. Archana said, “Karthik underwent a surgery yesterday and his condition was stable. Currently, he was undergoing treatment in the ICU.”

About the incident

Karthik, who had climbed an electric pole for maintenance work yesterday, was climbing down when he was electrocuted at about 12.45 pm.

Sources said that Karthik’s left wrist got severed and he had sustained severe burn injuries on his stomach and his internal organs had been badly damaged.  

The powerman was immediately shifted to a private hospital on Bannur Road in a critical state, where he is undergoing treatment in the ICU.

Meanwhile, hundreds of CESC employees, who assembled at the hospital, demanded action against those responsible for the incident.

KPTCL Employees Association Vice-President Sandeep, addressing the CESC employees, told them not to lose patience and indulge in blaming each other.

He said that the Association would extend necessary support to them apart from praying for Karthik’s speedy recovery.

“The higher officials have taken all steps to provide necessary treatment. Do not work without taking safety measures. Keep work pressure aside,” he said.

Meanwhile, a few colleagues of Karthik said that as there was power shutdown at DK Grounds Power Station yesterday, employees were deployed for maintenance works. They alleged that as power was supplied through Jyothinagar Power Station, it resulted in the ghastly incident. They added that the incident took place while Karthik was climbing down the electric pole after work.

Married for 3 years, Karthik has a 9-month-old son and had recently conducted naming ceremony.

CESC Fact Finding Committee formed

Following the incident, the CESC Managing Director M.S. Archana has formed a three-member Fact Finding Committee to investigate into the incident.

The members include: P. Chikkasiddegowda, Deputy General Manager (TA&QC), CESC, Mysuru; G. Ramachandrarao, Assistant Executive Engineer, L.T. Rating Sub-Division, Mysuru  and Syed Abdul Rahim, Assistant Executive Engineer, Vigilance Squad, Chamarajanagar Division.

The Committee has been instructed to conduct a thorough probe to find out if the incident had occurred due to technical snag/error or dereliction of duty and submit a report within three days to the CESC MD.

Following directions from the CESC MD, the Fact Finding Committee visited the spot at Jockey Quarters this morning and is collecting information.      

Hospital Health Bulletin

 “This young patient named Mr. Karthik, 33 years, was admitted with extensive third to fourth degree electrical burns involving both upper limbs, abdomen and legs. He underwent emergency surgery yesterday and thorough debridement with disarticulation of left upper limb and right wrist amputation with abdominal wall debridement. He is currently recovering in our ICU and is still on medications to maintain blood pressure. He remains critical but stable and is on vigilant monitoring by team of doctors.”

—Dr. H.S. Manjunath Bhargava, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Cauvery Heart and Multi-Speciality Hospital, Siddarthanagar, Mysuru