HYDERABAD: Three children lost their lives after being electrocuted by 11kV wires early on Thursday morning in the Tando Tayyab Phuleli area of Hyderabad, turning a wedding celebration into mourning.
Police said the victims had come to Hyderabad from District Sanghar’s Shahdadpur area to attend a wedding. Despite being warned by their parents, the children went to sleep on the roof after the event.
The locals said that scheduled power outages occur in the area from 4:45am to 6:45am. When electricity supply was restored, one of the boys woke up and accidentally came into contact with the high-voltage wires. The other two children were electrocuted while attempting to rescue him.
The deceased were identified as Abdul Rehman, 14, Naveed, 12, and Farhan, 10. Naveed and Farhan were brothers, while Rehman was their cousin. The Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) shut down the relevant feeder before the bodies were brought down from the roof. After the initial legal formalities, the bodies were taken to Shahdadpur in Edhi ambulances.
Hesco spokesman Muhammad Sadiq Kanbher told The News that the 11kV power lines had been installed before the area became populated, and that construction within a six-metre radius of such notices is prohibited. However, many residents have built double-storey houses beneath these notices, resulting in dangerous proximity to roofs.
Kanbher said Hesco had issued multiple notices to residents, but these were not complied with. In several cases, power lines are touching roofs, including the house where the incident occurred. He said the Sindh Building Control Authority and the district administration are responsible for enforcing regulations.
Meanwhile, as the bodies reached Shahdadpur, a pall of grief descended on the town. Funeral prayers for the three children were offered at Madina Masjid, after which they were laid to rest at the Nago Shah graveyard amid scenes of sorrow.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the district administration. Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leaders and others expressed grief, and demanded a comprehensive inquiry from the Hesco chief.
