5 electric poles topple over on busy road in Khulna
The accident took place in the morning hours on Monday
Five 11,000-volt electric poles, along with a telephone pole, toppled over simultaneously during a drain extension work along KDA road in Khulna city on Monday caused by the negligence of contractors engaged in scheme. One of the poles contained a transmitter.
The eyewitnesses said, the accident took place in the morning hours, spreading a sense of fear among the pedestrians, traders, and construction workers in the locality. However, there was no major casualty, as the electric connection was cut off immediately.
An officer at the electricity office quoting locals said Khulna City Corporation is making the drains within the city wider; as this scheme is being implemented, some boundary walls are tilting, while few collapsed, in the process; many electric and telephone poles also collapsed, as the scheme has placed several buildings at risk, as well.
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"A big accident may happen all of a sudden," he added.
Local people said, the poles toppled over because the workers had dug holes near those poles. Many people complained that the workers are working without following any definite plan.
Jahangir Hossain, the executive engineer of division 4 at the West Power Distribution Company, said, "We instructed them [the workers] not to dig holes within 2-3 feet of the poles, but they took no heed of our instructions. As a result, five 11,000-volt electric poles toppled over."
As soon as the poles collapsed, the electric connection was cut off; and, subsequently, the workers removed the poles from the spot.
Talukder Abdul Khalek, the mayor of Khulna City Corporation, said, "We have instructed the contractors, involved in the drain extension work, to be careful regarding the electric poles so that no problem of any sort is created for the general public."
