Electric post collapse causes two accidents, one death in Kumbalam
Locals alleged that no efforts were made to remove the post or block the road even after the first accident, leading to a 54-year-old man dying in the subsequent accident.
The collapsed post was a temporary one installed by Kerala State Electricity Board Ltd (KSEBL) to draw service wire to a house. A temple priest, identified as Suresh K N of Kumbalam, was on his way to a temple in Maradu for morning rituals when his motorcycle crashed into the post around 4.30am.
He was rushed to VPS Lakeshore Hospital, where he was admitted to neurosurgical intensive care unit for observation.
Another accident occurred at the same spot when a muezzin,
Abdul Gafoor
, 54, met with the accident while on his way for morning azan. His two-wheeler also collided with the same damaged post and was brought to emergency department of Lakeshore at 5.10am. He was unresponsive on arrival and was declared dead at 5.30am.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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The accidents occurred along Kumbalam PWD Road in ward 17. Palluruthy block panchayat member Jolly Pawathil, who lives in the neighbourhood, said two police vehicles passed by the area after the first accident but didn't block the road or remove the post. Panangad police sources admitted that a control room vehicle and another unit from the station passed through the area, with CCTV footage showing police vehicles passing through at 3.27am and 3.57am.
Police said the control room vehicle alerted KSEBL and fire force to remove the post and that there were not enough personnel on the vehicles to remove it. Jolly said police could've either sought the help of locals or local body members to remove the post, if not at least block the road.
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