By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
A woman and her two-year-old daughter were electrocuted in a rain-soaked road in Rishikesh area of Uttarakhand, police said on Monday.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening when strong winds and rain caused an LT power line to snap and fall onto a waterlogged road, energising the surrounding water. Suman Jethudi (32) and her daughter Srishti, who was in her arms, came into contact with the live water and died instantly.
But before dying, Suman managed to save her 12-year-old son who was also accompanying her by gesturing him to stay away from the death trap.
Taking serious note of the incident, UPCL Managing Director Prakash Chandra Dhayani suspended Raiwala Electricity Distribution Sub-Division JE Shambhu Prasad Bahuguna with immediate effect, citing prima facie negligence. A three-member committee headed by senior-level officers has been constituted to investigate the incident and submit its report.
Meanwhile, Suman’s husband, Harpal Singh Jethudi, lodged a police complaint against UPCL Executive Engineer Shakti Prasad, Sub-Divisional Engineer Shashikant Singh and JE Bahuguna. Police have registered a case under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and began an investigation.
Local residents have alleged that they had been demanding aerial bundled cables in the area for nearly a year, claiming such cables could have prevented the tragedy. Tehri Garhwal district panchayat member Pushpa Rawat has demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the bereaved family.
Following the incident, UPCL has ordered a state-wide special safety inspection of electricity lines and infrastructure, with particular attention to waterlogged areas, markets, schools, hospitals, densely populated localities and public roads. Officials have also been directed to inspect vulnerable points using thermal imaging cameras and undertake preventive maintenance of LT lines.