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New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Two-wheeler rider dies after hitting fallen electric pole in Kochi
KOCHI: A 54-year-old man died after his motorcycle hit a fallen electric pole at Kumbalam in Ernakulam in the early hours of Saturday. The incident sparked protests from local residents, who blamed the police and KSEB officials for the delay in removing the pole that posed a threat to the lives of commuters. The deceased has been identified as Abdul Gafoor, a resident of Aroor and an Usthad (religious teacher) at a mosque in Kumbalam. According to police, the accident occurred around 4.30 am while Gafoor was on his way to the mosque for morning prayers. A newly installed electric pole, not yet connected to power lines, had collapsed onto the road near St Mary's School around 3 am during heavy rain. Unaware of the obstruction, Gafoor crashed onto the post and sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to a hospital by police but succumbed to his injuries. Prior to this accident, another two-wheeler rider, a pujari had also crashed onto the same pole and sustained injuries. He was shifted to a nearby hospital. By morning, officials from KSEB and the Fire and Rescue Services removed the pole from the road. The Panangad police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Gafoor's body was handed over to his relatives after a postmortem examination. Local residents have expressed anger over what they describe as a negligent and delayed response from authorities. Simi Joby, member of Pravanam ward in Kumbalam panchayat, criticised the lack of prompt action, and the failure to place warning signs or barricades. 'It took several hours for the authorities to clear the pole from the road, even though the public had alerted them early in the morning. At the very least, some kind of warning should have been placed to alert motorists. In the meantime, two accidents occurred, one of which turned fatal,' she said. Responding to the criticism, Panangad police officials said they attempted to move the concrete pole twice in the early morning hours but were unable to do so as it was too heavy. 'We alerted KSEB and Fire and Rescue officials. Our team tried twice to remove the pole but couldn't, as it was a heavy concrete structure. While our personnel were still at the spot, we received an alert about another urgent incident and had to redirect our personnel,' a police officer stated. Authorities have since moved the pole to one side of the road. KSEB officials attributed the delay to a shortage of staff during the early hours.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Electric post collapse causes two accidents, one death in Kumbalam
Kochi: An electric post collapsed onto the road near Pranavam Junction in Kumbalam around 3am on Saturday, causing two back-to-back accidents in which one person was killed and another suffered grievous injury. 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 Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Killer New Toyota 4Runner Is Utter Perfection (Take A Look) MorninJoy Undo 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.
