Glaxo Town victims’ heirs to be provided financial assistance: Abid Sher

Glaxo Town victims' heirs to be provided financial assistance: Abid Sher
Power generation capacity to rise up to 25,000 Megawatt by year end: Abid Sher

LAHORE, July 25 (APP): Minister of State for Water and Power, Abid Sher Ali on Monday said that the government would provide financial assistance of Rs one million each to the heirs of a man and woman, who were electrocuted due to falling of live electricity wire in rainwater accumulated on Anam Road, Glaxo Town three days back.

He was talking to media after inquiring about the health of third victim Umar Hayat, who also received electric shunts and is being under treatment at Lahore General Hospital. He added that the government would also bear full medical expense of Umar Hayat till his complete recovery.

To a question, he said that all aspects of the tragic incident were being probed thoroughly, including the point that how rainwater seeped into the power meter that caught fire as water seepage was impossible without tempering the meter.
To another question, Abid Sher Ali said that it was impossible to shift the entire transmission lines underground, however, transmission lines in thickly populated and congested areas would be replaced with rubber-core wires, adding that effective steps would be taken to remove faults in the power transmission system across Pakistan.

He mentioned that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of two innocent lives and tasked him (Abid Sher) to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) spokesman said that due to heavy rains in Lahore a few days back, a light transmission line fell into rainwater after one of the power meters installed on an electricity pole on Anam Road in Glaxo Town, all of a sudden caught fire.

Subsequently, the electricity current flowed into rainwater and two persons lost their lives and one injured due to electric shunts while crossing the water.

He mentioned that those killed in the incident were identified as Kanwal daughter of Muhammad Attique, a resident of Sialkot district, and Muhammad Azeem son of Muhammad Saleem, resident of Sukkur district Sindh, while the injured person was Umar Hayat from Faisalabad.

Soon after the incident, the Prime Minister took strict notice of the incident and directed Minister of State Abid Sher Ali to conduct an inquiry into the incident, he said.

At night of July 24, the Minister along with LESCO Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Musaddiq Malik and LESCO Chief Executive Officer Qaisar Zaman visited the site of incident.

On this occasion, the Minister investigated the matter from respective XEN, SDO and other officials concerned and asked a number of questions to reach the ground realities. He also gathered information from shopkeepers and residents of area.

Abid Sher Ali expressed the resolve that whoever found guilty of the incident would be taken to task, adding that provision of protection to the lives and property of the citizens was prime responsibility of the government.

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