Kupwara: On 13 December 2017, Sharief-ud-in Peer, a lineman in Dardpora, Kralpora of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, was discharging his duty but little did he know that this would be the most tragic day of his life.
As per Sharief’s family, the “negligence of power department” left him amputated as the electricity was restored about half an hour before the scheduled time.
Admitted at SKIMS, Soura, the doctors had to amputate his left arm. Peer belongs to a very poor family with a handicapped brother and little children under his care.
“I was repairing a wire in Harie village and much to my bad luck, electricity was turned on 20 minutes before the scheduled time,” Sharief-ud-Din, who is paralysed from left side, told INS. “The negligence of the receiving station has cost me my arms. I’m useless now.”
His wife is yet to recover from the shock.
The doctors at the hospital said they amputated his left arm after a thorough examination. “The currents had paralysed his left side. Had we not taken such decision, his shoulder could also have been damaged,” he said.
His family members said not a single officer from the power department has visited Sharief-ud-Din at hospital. “Despite being responsible for this tragedy, they (PDD officials) have not bothered to come to visit us,” his brother said. “This amounts to rubbing salt to our injuries.”
State president Electric Employees Union, Abdul Salam Rajouri and district president Kupwara, Ghulam Mohiudin have demanded probe into the tragedy.
The family has appealed to authorities and affluent people for financial help as the treatment costs a huge amount.