Tilted electric poles, dangling wires pose danger

A number of electric poles in Gaibandha Sadar and Palashbari upazila remained dangerously tilted for the last two years, posing risk of accident anytime.

Besides, the live electric wires hanging from the tilted poles may snap anytime and fall on pedestrians, which can cause a fatal disaster.

Local people alleged that despite repeated appeals to the authorities concerned no step has been taken to replace risky electric poles which may uproot in a short time.

As many as six such roadside poles remain tilted hazardously in Dakkhin Dhanghora and Professor Colony area in Gaibandha municipality, where bamboos are used to support the poles to prevent those from falling, forcing the passers-by to cross the areas carefully.

Trader Saiful Islam said if the live electric wires fall on the pedestrians, especially the school kids, they can be victim of electrocution.

Locals said two years ago the authorities concerned set up the poles for power connections in the locality, but within a few months they tilted either towards the road or the crop fields.

Schoolteacher Amjad Hossain of Radhakrishnapur village in Sadar upazila said, “I feel more worried when students pass through the risky areas.”

Kamal Hossain, councillor of ward No 3 under the municipality, said they asked local PDB officials to replace the tilted poles on several occasions, but no action has been taken yet.

In Palashbari, local people identified at least five such tilted poles beside the crop lands at Garanata village in the last two years.

Farmer Hazrat Ali said due to the risky situation labourers demand high wages for working under the tilted poles.

Anwarul Islam, executive engineer of Power Distribution Division II in Gaibandha, said they have invited a tender to renovate the tilted and defective electric poles.