LUCKNOW: UP Power Corporation Nivida Samvida Karamchari Sangh has alleged that 36 workplace accidents in the past 37 days have claimed 22 lives and left 14 workers seriously injured across Uttar Pradesh, blaming staff shortages and unsafe working conditions for the rising toll.According to the union, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Ltd (UPPCL) and its discoms have removed nearly 25,000 outsourced electricity workers, leading to an acute manpower shortage. The union claimed that the reduced workforce has increased the burden on remaining employees and compromised safety standards.Speaking to TOI, union’s state general secretary Devendra Kumar Pandey alleged that instead of deploying a standard maintenance gang comprising a lineman, a patrolman/ skilled worker, and two unskilled workers on 11 kV outgoing feeders, in majority of cases only one worker is being assigned. He said, as per 2017 notification of UPPCL, when power consumers were around 1.5 crore, 36 men were stationed at one sub-station having five outing feeders. Earlier, there were four sub-station operators (SSOs) and four assistant SSOs at one sub-station. But based on the Oct 2024 notification, only 18.5 men are stationed at one sub-station having five outing feeders. Now, a sub-station is manned by 3.5 SSOs with no assistant SSOs.Pandey further claimed that unskilled personnel are being asked to work on high-tension and low-tension power lines, transformers, breakers and other electrical installations. “There is provision of safety equipment for on-duty field units, but reality is that they are not even being provided stairs in certain areas,” he alleged.The union said it had repeatedly raised concerns with the management over safety issues but alleged that no effective steps had been taken to prevent accidents. It claimed that the highest number of accidents had been reported in MVVNL.Expressing concern over the deaths and injuries, the organization announced a phased agitation programme. As part of the first phase, tribute meetings will be held across various districts of the state on June 1 to honour workers who lost their lives in accidents.In Lucknow, a condolence meeting will be organised at Shakti Bhawan from 10 am on June 1.Responding to the TOI query, UPPCL chairman Ashish Kumar Goel said, “Number of casualties has reduced compared to last year.”Responding to TOI query, managing director UPPCL Nitish Kumar said, “There has been a 31% reduction in death due to a power accident while on-duty. Further, UPPCL has additional invested Rs 28 crore in procurement and dissemination of safety gear for power staff.”He added, “There is no men power shortage, in fact we have increased the number of personnel for on field work.”
