HPSEBL's Sagging Power Lines Turn Farmlands Into Death Traps in Bharmour
BHARMOUR: Residents of remote Khan Bagga village under Badgram Panchayat in Bharmour have accused the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL) of gross negligence as dangerously sagging transmission lines continue to pass through agricultural fields, posing a serious threat to farmers and labourers.
The low-hanging live wires have made farming operations hazardous, with villagers fearing electrocution while working in their fields.
The danger is so evident that locals have been forced to use makeshift arrangements to keep the wires away from workers.
In one instance, a villager was seen using a dry wooden stick to lift a live wire so that people could safely pass through and carry out agricultural activities.
Ashok Kumar, a resident of Khanbagga village, said repeated representations had been made to local HPSEBL authorities over the past several months, but no corrective action had been taken.
"The wires are hanging dangerously close to our fields. We have raised the issue many times, but the department remains indifferent," he alleged.
The problem is not confined to Bharmour alone. Similar complaints have surfaced from several apple-growing areas of Shimla district, where live electricity lines pass through orchards.
Orchardists say labourers often receive electric shocks while harvesting apples during the season, despite repeated complaints to the electricity board.
Villagers have demanded immediate intervention from HPSEBL and the district administration before a major tragedy occurs.
They warned that continued official apathy could cost human lives and urged authorities to replace or raise the sagging lines on priority.
Locals described the situation as a glaring example of administrative negligence, alleging that despite numerous complaints, the electricity department has failed to act.
