New Delhi: A 41-year-old domestic worker died after allegedly suffering an electric shock from an immersion rod while bathing in a servant quarter of a house on Pandara Road, near Khan Market, in central Delhi. Police have registered a case of death by negligence and launched an investigation.
The incident occurred around 1 pm on Nov 6 when the domestic help, Rita Devi, allegedly suffered an electric shock from an immersion rod used to heat water in the bathroom, according to police. Police said a case has been registered under Sections 289 and 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 289 pertains to negligent conduct with respect to machinery, while Section 106(1) deals with causing death by negligence. Last year, a 23-year-old woman from Manipur was found dead at her residence in southwest Delhi’s Mahipalpur.
Following a PCR call, a team from Tilak Marg police station reached the spot and inspected the premises. A crime team was also called in to examine the scene and collect evidence. The body was later shifted to Lady Hardinge Hospital for post-mortem examination. The incident has once again drawn attention to the risks associated with portable electric water-heating rods, whose use typically increases during winter. Police had suspected that she suffered an electric shock from an immersion rod she had taken into the bathroom to heat water before bathing.
In another case in 2017, a 30-year-old woman, Tripti Singh, died after allegedly suffering an electric shock while using an immersion rod to heat water in her bathroom. Her family had suspected faulty electrical wiring as a possible cause.
Investigators are examining the circumstances under which the immersion rod was being used and whether any safety precautions were overlooked. Further investigation is underway.