News: Orris Aster Court housekeeping staff electrocuted while cleaning fountain-27-03-2021
Orris Aster Court housekeeping staff electrocuted while cleaning fountain
Gurgaon: A 27-year-old housekeeping staff was electrocuted while cleaning an ornamental fountain at Orris Aster Court, a housing society in Sector 85. Though Suresh Kumar died on Tuesday, police registered a case only on Friday following protests by his family members and neighbours against the maintenance agency of the society.Originally from Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Suresh joined a facility service provider based in Sector 55 barely two months back and was deputed to Orris Aster Court as a housekeeping staff. On Tuesday afternoon, police said, Suresh entered the ornamental fountain alone for cleaning it but soon collapsed after sustaining an electric shock.
In her police complaint, Suresh’s wife Sarawati alleged that her husband’s nephew Joginder, employed with the same firm contracted by the Aster Court maintenance agency, had complained about the risk of electric shocks in the water fountain many a time to their supervisors.
Residents of Aster Court also said that such an accident was bound to happen as the society lacks a fire safety system and CCTV cameras, and there are open electric panels in many towers. “Neither the builder nor the maintenance agency is willing to address these issues, despite repeated complaints,” said a resident, who didn’t wish to be named.
Krishan Kumar, SHO of Kherki Daula police station, said that police took the body into custody on Tuesday. “After the post-mortem examination confirmed the death was due to shock following electrocution, we have filed an FIR against unnamed persons under Section of 304A of IPC (causing death due to negligence),” he said.
However, Suresh’s family members said that the police registered the case only after they staged a protest against the maintenance agency, demanding compensation for the family of the deceased.
“They (maintenance company) were clearly aware of the risk of an electric shock and yet they sent Suresh there to clean the fountain without disconnecting the source of electricity and any supervision,” said Sunil Kumar, one of the family members.
“Suresh died while working for the maintenance agency and it should be held accountable for his death. Since Tuesday, we have been trying to reach out to the agency management, but got no response from them,” he added.
A representative of the maintenance agency said that they’re cooperating in the police investigation”. “We understand the pain of the family. Though he was not on our payroll, however, we are doing whatever is possible to support his family,” he added.
