VASCO: An electric pole, erected in the middle of Swatantra Path snapped suddenly and the top portion came down crashing down, injuring a labourer engaged in replacing a conductor on it on Tuesday morning.

The labourer, identified as Tapan, sustained minor injuries and was rushed to hospital. The worker, engaged by a contracting firm, was then discharged after being given first aid.

The junior engineer, Mr Suraj Waghmode, who was monitoring the work, told ‘The Navhind Times’ that the electricity department has taken up the work of replacing conductors and it has been allocated to Prabha Electricals.

At around 9.15 a.m. when the labourer had climbed the pole opposite the Government High School (middle), the pole broke and the top portion came crashing down, injuring the worker. The work was initiated as a part of the repair work, informed Mr Waghmode.

The pole was rusted as it is some 25-30 years old, informed the junior engineer adding there was power shutdown as usual as a part of precautionary measures. The executive engineer, Mr Shivsankaran and assistant engineer, Mr Gopinathan Pillai reached the site after they were intimated about the incident.

Mr Shivsankaran informed that the electricity department has restored the power supply by replacing the pole and the conductors. He further stated that the department will be replacing all the poles erected in the middle of the Swatantra Path in order to avoid any accidents and casualties.

Meanwhile, the Revenue Minister, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza visited the site and directed the electricity department officials to follow the process of replacing all the (tubular) poles in the city in order to avoid any more incidents of poles breaking down.