Driver, son electrocuted as high tension power cable falls on bus

Pilibhit: The driver of a private bus was electrocuted along with his 16-year-old son after their vehicle allegedly came in contact with a high-tension electricity cable about 100m away from the Bareilly-Haridwar national highway in UP’s Pilibhit district. Sajjan Khan, 56, who was the bus’s owner as well, had just dropped around 50 wedding guests at a nearby village and was reversing the 52-seater vehicle when it struck the power line.According to locals, the tyres of the bus caught fire after high voltage current passed through the vehicle, killing Khan and his son, Subhan, on the spot. The incident took place at Gauneri in Jahanabad area. Khan lived in Pilibhit, and had purchased the bus through a loan around three years ago. He is survived by his wife and four daughters.Pilibhit district magistrate (DM), Gyanendra Singh, told TOI that a four-member inquiry panel comprising the SDM and CO of Pilibhit sadar, ARTO and the superintending engineer of the electricity department has been constituted to probe the incident and file a report within three days.He also directed SP, Sukirti Madhav, to conduct an extensive inspection of all such cables and prepare a detailed report. “I’ve referred the matter to the state govt for stringent action against the culprits,” the DM said, adding that the victims’ kin would receive compensation from the electricity department.Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar, superintending engineer at UP Power Corporation Limited, said that he has set up a panel to be led by the executive engineer of Puranpur circle to look into the allegations of “laxity and negligence”.