Boy electrocuted at BEST bus stand

In a freak incident that has raised concerns ahead of the monsoon rains, a 15-year-old boy playing with his friends at Worli Sea Face died due to electrocution on Tuesday after he came in contact with a BEST bus stop.
According to the Worli police, the entire bus stand was electrified due to a suspected earthing fault that arose after waves splashed on the stand during high-tide.

The victim, Pratik Rajendra Bamne, a resident of Siddharth Nagar in Worli, had appeared for his SSC exams and was eagerly awaiting the results. His last rites were performed by the family on Wednesday.

Pratik's death was raised during the BEST Committee meeting on Thursday by local corporator Rajesh Kusle.

"On Tuesday, during high tide, sea water splashed on the bus stop opposite Worli Dairy. The bus stop has wires for electric supply for the advertisement panel on it. It appears that due to water falling on to the bus stop, some earthing problem arose and live current started flowing in the bus stop," said an officer from Worli police station.

"Public gathered at the spot and someone called the police control room informing about the incident. Our police van reached the spot within minutes and took him to Nair Hospital, where he was declared dead around 6 pm," said the officer.

"Our probe is on and we have registered an accidental death case in the matter. We will be probing whose negligence it was," said investigating officer and police sub-inspector Prashant Chaudhary from Worli Police Station.

"Across Mumbai, different agencies have contracts with us for advertisements at BEST bus stops. Maintenance of the wiring is the responsibility of the agencies and they decide on how and when tomaintain the wirings. In today's BEST Committee meeting, local corporator Rajesh Kusle had raised Pratik Bamne's issue and discussion was held on it. The BEST Management is gathering details and in next meeting we would discuss whether compensation needs to be given or not; how much should be given; and whether the concerned agency or BEST will have to give compensation etc. Penal action against the agency will also be considered," said Deputy Public Relations Officer, BEST, Manoj Varade.

He added, following the incident, other agencies will be given standing instructions that such incidents should not be repeated, and that wiring and installations should be checked and maintained properly.

Pratik's father Rajendra told DNA, "Pratik had called me around 2:30 pm, saying that he was going for a movie. I told him to take money from home, and he left home with the money. Normally, I would call to check on him, but as he said he was going to see a movie, I did not call him. Around 5 pm, Pratik's friends informed me that he had been electrocuted."

Rajendra, 47, then learnt that Pratik had gone to Worli Sea Face with his friends. "They were playing at the sea-face, and while playing, Pratik accidentally touched the bus stop on the sea-face and got
electrocuted as current was flowing through it."

"Pratik's friends said that they tried to save Pratik with the help of slippers and bamboo sticks, while the police kept controlling the crowd. Had the BEST been more careful, I wouldn't have lost my son. On reaching the hospital, I saw my son's body. When he left home, I never thought it would be the last time I'll be seeing my son alive," said the weeping father, who works in a private company.

Pratik, a student of Shardashram Vidyamandir in Dadar, had lost his mother in May 2015.

Rajendra said that ironically, Pratik loved repairing machines at home and was never afraid of electric shocks. "He showed keen interest in mending the electrical appliances and electrical equipment at home and in our neighborhood" he said.

"We have lost our child, due to the negligence of the BEST and would request the BEST and the government to ensure such incidents do not happen again. As the monsoon season will soon begin, people will try taking shelter under bus stops," he warned.