Teacher electrocuted at railway station: Delhiites shocked

Residents have been questioning the infrastructure in the Capital after a 35-year-old woman died of electrocution at the waterlogged New Delhi Railways Station on May 25.

On May 25, Sunday, shortly before boarding the Vande Bharat Express from New Delhi Railway Station, Sakshi Ahuja, a 35-year-old architect-teacher at Delhi’s Lovely Public School, was electrocuted to death as she came in contact with a live wire when she clutched an electric pole for support amid heavy rainfall. The station was waterlogged, and wading their way through it was Sakshi’s family, including her two children (aged 9 and 7), parents, brother and sister, who were together headed for a vacation to Chandigarh.

Sakshi Ahuja (inset) was electrocuted to death after coming in contact with a live wire. (Photo: Raj K Raj/HT)

Following the mishap with the school teacher, Apoorva Gupta, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Railways), says, “We have requested railways to do a safety audit of the electric poles at the stations since it’s the monsoon season and water logging happens quite often.”

Sakshi’s children study at Modern School. Medha Shri Dahiya, a journalist whose kids are schoolmates with Sakshi’s kids, says, “When we first heard the news, I prayed that it wasn’t the same Sakshi. I had met her a few times and found her to be warm. To imagine how this would affect the lives of the kids is inconceivable.”

Eminent residents of the city react

Sunil Sethi, chairperson, Fashion Design Council of India, says, “It’s very traumatising. The kids were looking forward to their summer break, so it’s disheartening to see the situation now. However, it’s not the time to play the blame game. We all (authorities and citizens) should be equally responsible and careful.”

Swati Maliwal, chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women: “It was such an avoidable thing, a totally man-made disaster. I want to know what accountability measures the Railways have taken, what action is being taken and what kind of compensation is being worked out for the family. “

Shovana Narayan, Kathak exponent, says, “When you have electric poles, the wires need to be locked up in the boxes installed at these. It’s concerning how a box with high intensity wires was left open.”

Sidharth Luthra, senior advocate, Supreme Court, says, “It’s very disturbing because on one hand we talk about improving technology in the country and yet our basic infrastructure is lacking. The legal system will move to take action against those who are at fault, but the larger question is how can something like this happen at the Railways, which is lauded as one of our national assets? If it had happened at a private property, then would it not have caused a furore and prosecution instituted immediately?”

When at electrocution risk, what to do:

To break the contact point between the victim and the wire, use a non-conducting material such as wood, bamboo or cloth. Do not touch the person with bare hands.

- Call the Ambulance. Dial 102.

- Check the victim’s ABCs: Air passage, breathing and circulation of blood. If any of these seem compromised, give the victim CPR.

- Make sure the victim is in a well-ventilated area and discourage people from crowding around them.

- Wear non-conducting footwear.

What not to do:

- Travelling or crossing water logged areas or entering any place where the water has risen above the electrical outlets.

- Touching any uninsulated open joints of electrical wires and cables with bare hands.

- Touching a live, wet tree, which can conduct electricity too.

Inputs by Sanjay Tomar, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Delhi Fire Services

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