Electrocution deaths: NDPL to pay damages

The Delhi high court on Thursday directed the New Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) to pay a compensation of Rs 7.46 lakh to the legal heirs of two brothers who died due to electrocution 14 years ago.

The Delhi high court on Thursday directed the New Delhi Power Limited (NDPL) to pay a compensation of Rs 7.46 lakh to the legal heirs of two brothers who died due to electrocution 14 years ago.

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Suraj Bhan and Jagdish Sharma died while trying to save their nephew, who had come in contact with a live wire near their house in Dheerpur on September 27, 1998. The court ordered a compensation of Rs 3.96 lakh to the family of Sharma while the kin of Bhan will get Rs 3.5 lakh.

The NDPL said the deaths were caused by the wires laid by Digital Video Broadcasting.

But Justice VK Jain rejected the argument, saying, “It may be the DVB’s duty to maintain its wires and keep them in appropriate condition. But... it was the responsibility of NDPL to replace the old and weak wires from time to time.”