A 32-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter were electrocuted by a fallen power line on a waterlogged road in Rishikesh on Sunday. In response to the tragedy, the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) has suspended a junior engineer and initiated a state-wide safety inspection drive. Police have registered a case against senior utility officials, as residents call for improved infrastructure safety measures to prevent future accidents.
A tragic electrocution incident in the Khadri Gram Sabha area of Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, has led to immediate administrative action against the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL). On Sunday, August 16, 2026, a 32-year-old woman, Suman Jethudi, and her two-year-old daughter lost their lives after coming into contact with a live low-tension wire that had snapped and fallen into a waterlogged road during heavy rainfall. The victim's 12-year-old son survived the incident after his mother alerted him to the danger before she and her daughter succumbed to the current.
Regulatory and Legal Response
Following the tragedy, UPCL has suspended junior engineer Shambhu Prasad Bahuguna. Furthermore, a police case has been registered against the Executive Engineer, the Sub-Divisional Engineer, and the suspended junior engineer under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which relates to causing death by negligence. The registration of this case highlights the mounting pressure on the power utility to ensure accountability for the maintenance and safety of its electrical network.
Infrastructure Safety Concerns
The incident has drawn significant attention to the state of electrical infrastructure in the region. Local representatives and residents have expressed strong concerns regarding the safety of public power lines, specifically advocating for the implementation of aerial bunching cables as a protective measure to prevent such accidents during extreme weather events.
State-Wide Inspection Drive
In response to the public outcry, UPCL Managing Director Prakash Chandra Dhyani held an emergency meeting to address the utility's maintenance protocols. The corporation has established a three-member committee to investigate the specific causes of the accident and submit a detailed report. Additionally, UPCL has mandated a state-wide safety inspection and preventive maintenance drive. This initiative is tasked with prioritizing the examination of electrical infrastructure in vulnerable locations, including schools, marketplaces, and heavily traveled public thoroughfares. The progress of the departmental inquiry and the implementation of these safety upgrades will be the primary areas to monitor as the investigation proceeds.