Deaths and losses in Karachi.

Byline: Sarwar Bari

In just three days, 23 precious lives were lost in Karachi alone because of electrocution.. PHOTO: ONLINEThe writer works with Pattan Development Organisation and can be reached at bari@pattan.org

In just three days, 23 precious lives were lost in Karachi alone because of electrocution. All those losing lives were children and adolescents. Before looking for who is to be blamed, let's first examine the relationship between cause and effect or between risk/hazard and vulnerability. Experts define risk as 'a probability or threat of damage that is caused by internal vulnerabilities, and that may be avoidable'. And vulnerability is 'the characteristics and circumstances of an individual, a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a risk/hazard'.

Consider this. Birds sit on high voltage wires and don't die. Why? Because 'they don't become good conductors of electricity. They sit on a single wire, so the electrons in the wires have no medium to travel through the bird's body as birds have no contact to the ground. No moving electrons means no electric current'. Hence, no danger. Moving from birds to humans. Since we walk on the ground, we provide 'an excellent path to electrons to travel from high potential (the wire) to low potential (the ground)'. So, all trained professionals like electricians and birds prevent electrons to move through their bodies. Similarly, power providers are supposed to insulate electrons from humans and animals even if they touch electricity poles, wires and transformers, etc.

In Karachi, K-Electric didn't perform professionally over a long period. It didn't bother to check safety of electricity structures on a regular basis. Hence, it failed to replace damaged and worn-out insulators. The rain eliminated the remaining insulation. Risk turned into disaster the moment it rained. Since it is an outcome of an alleged criminal negligence, the company should compensate the heirs of the deceased persons. On the contrary, the company has attempted to hide its negligence by declaring 'Force Majeure' under Rule 10 of the Nepra Performance Standards (Distribution) Rules, 2005, for the period July 29, 2019 and onwards. I must emphasise that it was not the nature; it was the result of prolonged negligence.

But it is not just K-Electric, Nepra may also be made responsible for not taking timely action against K-Electric of its negligence. Consider. Nepra claims that to make...