Mother, toddler electrocuted in Rishikesh, junior engineer suspended

A 32-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter were electrocuted on a waterlogged road in Rishikesh late Sunday evening after a low-tension power line snapped by rain and strong winds fell into the area, spreading current through the water. The woman, Suman Jethudi, signalled to her 12-year-old son to stay away, saving his life, officials said.

Taking serious note of the incident, the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) suspended junior engineer Shambhu Prasad Bahuguna with immediate effect. Suman's husband, Harpal Singh Jethudi, filed a complaint against Bahuguna, executive engineer Shakti Prasad, and sub-divisional engineer Shashikant Singh. Police registered a case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and have begun an investigation.

UPCL managing director Prakash Chandra Dhyani formed a three-member inquiry committee of chief engineer-rank officials to probe the accident and submit a report immediately. He also ordered a statewide safety inspection of all power lines, with priority for waterlogged areas, markets, schools, and hospitals. Local zila panchayat member Pushpa Rawat has demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the family, citing departmental negligence and noting that locals had sought installation of aerial bunching cables for the past year.