RAHIM YAR KHAN, July 5: An elderly man was electrocuted owing to negligence of the Multan Electric Supply Company officials, it is learnt on Wednesday.

Reports said Abdul Hafeez’s daughter, resident of Mohallah Qazian suffered electric shock from a pole outside her house on June 18. Abdul Hafeez approached area councillor Abdul Lateef Bhatti, requesting him to ask the Mepco officials to make a better arrangement.

The councillor informed the Mepco city sub-division officials about the problem. A day later, Mian Abdul Hai, another resident of the locality, lodged a complaint No 557 with the city sub-division office that the electric pole had current and was, therefore, a potential threat for the people living in the area. But the Mepco authorities ignored the complaints.

On June 20, Mian Yar Muhammad, the resident of the same street, came out of his house to visit market and held the pole to save himself from being slipped. He was electrocuted in no time.

After the incident, Yar’s grandson Mian Abdul Hafeez complained to the city sub-division office on the telephone and the officials made some temporary work. A sweeper suffered electric shock a couple of days ago after which Mian Abdul Hafeez again lodged a complaint No 1139 at 7.30am with the same office.

Responding to the repeated complaints, Mepco lineman Yousaf came there and told Mian Abdul Hafeez that they had informed assistant manager and manager (operations) about the problem but they were least bothered about it.

When contacted, Mian Hafeez told this correspondent that the problem had started when the authorities concerned shifted the meters from houses to poles. He said another pole just a few yards away also had current and many girl students had suffered shocks while touching it. As the street was narrow, he said, cemented poles should be installed instead of iron poles.

When contacted, Mepco city sub division assistant manager (operations) Asim Rasheed Chaudhry said he had checked the complaints. He said he would answer the other queries of journalists after a few days.