An ad hoc technician attached to the Ughelli Area Office of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company has been electrocuted.
The incident happened during a mass disconnection of debtors at the Low- Cost Housing Estate in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State .
It was gathered that the deceased , simply identified as Theophilus , alongside other staff of BEDC , were on power disconnection exercise when the incident took place on Friday.
Our correspondent learned that the late technician was on the pole disconnecting a customer at the estate when power supply was restored suddenly. He was reportedly electrocuted immediately , leading to his death .
A resident of the area who confirmed the incident , said BEDC officials who went on the disconnection exercise with the deceased could not do anything to save him.
His body , which was strapped to the electric pole for over an hour after the incident , was later evacuated in collaboration with sympathisers who thronged the scene .
Giving details of the incident , a resident who did not want to be named said , “The incident came as a surprise .
“ We were all watching when the head of team for the disconnection insisted that a particular compound should be disconnected.
“ The technician , whom they claimed was an ad hoc staff, also pleaded with the head of the team not to disconnect the building.
“ Despite the appeal, the head of the team ordered the technician to climb up and cut the source of power supply .
“After much argument , the deceased reluctantly climbed the pole to effect the disconnection, but in the process , electricity was restored to the line , resulting to him being electrocuted . ”
It was gathered that the compound in question was not a habitual debtor.
Although BEDC confirmed the incident , it denied the late technician being a staff of the company .
BEDC ’s Public Relations Officer in charge of the area , Helen Ogagarue , described the incident as unfortunate , adding , “He wasn ’ t a staff of BEDC but was working with a BEDC staff. However, there are efforts to go and see his family . ”
The deceased ’s body has been deposited at a morgue in Ughelli .


http://punchng.com/power-company-official-electrocuted-during-mass-disconnection/

Quite an unfortunate incident.

May God grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.