23-year-old woman, a pillar of support for family, electrocuted in water-logged Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 6: A 23-year old woman, who allegedly died due to electrocution after she came into contact with an electric pole while navigating a flooded road here was a "pillar of support" for the family, both financially and morally.
With aged parents and a handicapped brother at home, Akhila started working after completing her graduation to support the family's needs.
Akhila worked in the administration department of a private school.
"We (parents) had called her last night and she had told me that she will come home, once the rain stops...no child should face what my child faced. Our life was dependent on her earnings, my wife can't work, son is handicapped, I work as a gardener part-time after taking care of the cows that we have," Akhila's father Somashekar said.
According to police, the incident is said to have taken place at Siddapura near Whitefield here on Monday night, when the victim was returning home on her scooter.
They said, as per account of people at the spot, on reaching the stretch of a road that was waterlogged, the woman's vehicle broke down and she lost balance. As she was trying to regain balance to move ahead, she is said to have touched an electric pole nearby, that had open wires for support, and got electrocuted.
However, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) has said that the "fatal non-departmental accident" occurred after the victim accidently came in contact with advertisement hoarding erected on the road divider.
The mother and sister of Akhila claimed that no one nearby came to help her fearing that they too might get electrocuted, while the father said, one of her colleagues who was passing on the same stretch noticed and attended to her and rushed to hospital, where she succumbed.
"I had asked her to come home soon, and she said, she will. When called later the phone was switched off, she was everything for our house, she was like my son, she was taking care of her handicapped brother, but she has left us," said her inconsolable mother Padma.
Recalling that she was a good student and had completed her graduation, the mother said, "she even took care of cows at home. She could have studied further but could not due to the situation at home and was delaying her marriage for the same reason."
Her married sister Asha said, someone should have noticed open wires and taken action; had it been done my sister would have been alive.
"No one should face her fate or the pain my sister suffered...don't know whom to blame," she said, while remembering her sister as a safe driver.
Noting that if there was no waterlogging and the open wires were taped by the authorities, Akhila would have been alive today, Akhila's father said, adding he has filed a complaint against both Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
According to BESCOM's statement, as per its officials, who visited the spot, the victim fell on advertisement hoardings erected on the divider and got electrocuted, after her scooter skid due to waterlogging.
"Soon after receiving a call from the public, power supply was disconnected by tripping the feeder at the sub- station and BESCOM officials rushed to the spot. There was no BESCOM wire found around the hoarding, locals told that she was shifted to nearby hospital," it said.
BESCOM officials stated that one private advertisement hoarding was at the spot, it further said, adding that "officials of electrical inspectorate has visited the spot and initiated the inquiry. Whitefield police have registered the case. Body was shifted to private hospital."
Police earlier on Tuesday said they are investigating the incident.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Karnataka High Court urges Parliament to enact Uniform Civil Code
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has urged Parliament and state legislatures to enact a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), stating that such a law would uphold equality for women, promote harmony among castes and religions, and protect individual dignity.
The observation came from a bench headed by Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar while hearing a property dispute involving the estate of Abdul Basheer Khan, who died intestate, leaving behind both inherited and self-acquired immovable properties.
In its judgment, the court directed the Registrar General to send a copy of the order to the Principal Law Secretaries of the Union government and the State of Karnataka. It stressed that enacting a UCC would align with Article 44 of the Constitution and the principles laid out in the Preamble—justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, and national unity.
The bench noted that a UCC would ensure justice and equal opportunity for all, particularly women, regardless of caste or religion, and would safeguard the dignity and individuality of every citizen. It also cited Goa and Uttarakhand as examples of states that have introduced UCC laws and encouraged others to follow.
In the case at hand, the High Court upheld a lower court ruling that recognised Shanaz Begum’s right to a share in three properties. The appeal filed by the sons of Abdul Basheer Khan was dismissed, along with a cross-objection by Shanaz Begum seeking a larger portion of the estate.
Article 44 of the Indian Constitution states that the State shall endeavour to secure a uniform civil code for all citizens across India.
