Kulgam, June 23, KNT: Scores of employees from the Power Development Department (PDD) staged a protest in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Sunday, expressing anger and sorrow over the recent tragic deaths of two colleagues—including a Junior Engineer—in a transformer blast in Budgam.
The protesting employees held placards and shouted slogans outside the PDD office, demanding immediate provision of safety kits, protective gear, and essential tools for field workers who routinely put their lives at risk while repairing power transformers and high-voltage lines.
“The deaths in Budgam were not an accident—they were the result of administrative neglect,” said one protesting lineman. “We are made to work in life-threatening conditions without proper gloves, helmets, or insulated equipment.”
The protesters said the tragedy has exposed the lack of concern for employee safety in the power department, especially in rural and high-risk zones. They warned of continued agitation if their demands were not addressed urgently.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) PDD Kulgam, Mrs Irfana, who joined the protest in solidarity, expressed deep grief over the loss of lives. “This incident has shaken all of us. Safety kits are not a luxury—they are a necessity for every worker in the field,” she said, acknowledging the risk faced daily by PDD staff across the Valley.
“We urge the higher authorities to not delay this anymore. The safety of our staff must be the top priority,” Irfana added.
The employees also called for a department-wide safety audit, regular training sessions, and mandatory checks to ensure that no worker is deployed to the field without protective equipment.[KNT]
