Kollam: The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has suspended the overseer of the Thevalakkara electrical section in connection with the death of a Class 8 student who was electrocuted on his school campus in Kollam district on July 17.

The suspended official, Biju S, had conducted line patrolling in the area prior to the incident. His suspension was approved by KSEB Chairman and Managing Director based on the findings of a report submitted by the Kollam Electrical Circle Deputy Chief Engineer. The report was forwarded by the KSEB’s Chief Engineer and Chief Safety Commissioner.

Mithun (13), a student of Thevalakkara Boys High School, was electrocuted when he came into contact with a live wire near the school’s cycle shed. The incident sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of school infrastructure. Following the incident, the Sasthamcotta police have registered a case against the school manager, headmistress, and the assistant engineer of the local self-government department (LSGD).

Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty had earlier rejected the preliminary report submitted by Chief Safety Commissioner M A Praveen after it failed to name any specific officers. The Safety Commissioner’s report said that eight years ago, the school management did not obtain prior clearance from the KSEB when it built a cycle shed beneath the electric line, which caused Mithun’s death. The report also said that the electric line is not at a safe height from either the ground level or the metal sheet roof of the cycle shed. The KSEB officials erred in not taking action on this matter, despite having noticed it. The officials should have solved the issue by serving a notice to the school manager, the report said.

According to the Commissioner, the present assistant engineer could not be faulted, as the shed was built before his term. Incidentally, two days before Mithun’s death, the assistant engineer had directed the school manager to install a new electric post at the spot to raise the power line. However, the manager replied that the directive to install a new post after demolishing a portion of the cycle shed had to be discussed by the management committee, and its decision would be conveyed to the assistant engineer.