8 die on waterlogged city streets in 24 hours

Kolkata: From a hotel security guard who tried to switch off an inverter to a fruit seller trying to hold a lamp post to keep balance while cycling, a waterlogged Kolkata reported eight deaths on Tuesday. Another woman is stated to be serious.It was 4.30 am when Pawan Gharami, a middle-aged security guard, was electrocuted while trying to switch off an inverter at the Shakespeare Sarani hotel. At 7.30 am near Netaji Nagar, 62-year-old fruit vendor Prantos Kundu, alias Babu, a resident of Gandhi Colony, was on his way to work early in the morning during heavy rain, riding his cycle. He lost his balance due to water current and grabbed an electric pole, resulting in immediate electrocution.Locals said Kundu, who died near his shop, also used to feed strays. A dog tried to sniff his lifeless body floating when it was also electrocuted. "Several passers-by who were at the spot were trying to reach out to Kundu when they stopped seeing the dog being electrocuted," a local said. Cops have cordoned off the area for further examination.Jitendra Singh, a 60-year-old man, was electrocuted around 5.15 am at his residence on Hossain Shah Road near Kidderpore. Firoz Ali Khan (59), a resident of Mullickpur in South 24 Parganas, was found floating lifeless on Sundari Mohan Avenue around 7.15 am. Ram Gopal Pandit (53), a resident of Garfa Main Road, was found dead after he reportedly came in touch with a pole while cycling. At Ballygunge Place, Sandip Guhathakurta (60) was found dead on a footpath. Locals noticed the body in the morning and informed the police. Initial probe suggests electrocution as the cause of death.In Behala, Sunil Surya, a 35-year-old man, was electrocuted inside the Bengal Polyclaim Industry around 8.40 am. He was declared dead upon arrival at Vidyasagar State General Hospital. At Haridevpur, Subha Pramanick (25), an employee at a local factory, was electrocuted while turning on the power meter after opening the factory gates on Tuesday morning. A 70-year-old resident of Mayurbhanj Road, Mumtaz Bibi, was electrocuted at her home around 7.50 am. She was stated to be out of danger at SSKM.CESC executive director Avijit Ghosh said all eight deaths were being probed. "Five persons died on their premises, at homes, and workplace. Two persons were electrocuted when they came in contact with street light poles, and another person died when he touched a traffic signal post," he said. "CESC does not own, manage, or maintain streetlight posts or traffic light posts. As for homes and workplaces, CESC supplies power but does not control internal wiring," he said. A CESC spokesperson said the company would abide by the govt's instructions.KMC has asked CESC to check electric junction box that supplies power to lamp posts. "If CESC feels a particular street post may cause electrocution, they should not supply power to it," said MMiC (electrical) Sandip Bakshi.