12 Kolkata: The commissioner of police, Manoj Verma, has requested all concerned road-owning agencies, including the KMC and PWD, to take advance preparations for the upcoming rainy season. This includes properly insulating or covering electric poles to prevent electrocution hazards and also repairing potholes on roads.
The top cop's plea, made at the road safety committee meeting on Saturday, coincides with Thursday's incident where a 60-year-old woman lost her life and a 32-year-old man barely survived electrocution at Behala's Unique Park. Both victims came in contact with a live wire dangling from a street lamp that was uprooted due to a fallen Gulmohar tree. There have also been several deaths of pedestrians touching live wires on waterlogged streets in recent years.
Sources said the police were writing separately to agencies so that they can work in close coordination in case of any natural disaster, especially the nor'westers. "We need to identify those spots where we can put up guardrails, or even stop any form of movement, in case of an emergency. For this, real-time information needs to be shared with us. We are also asking to raise the electrical joint boxes," said a senior cop.
The Kolkata Police has requested Kolkata Municipal Corporation to inform them when the latter decides to switch off street lights due to waterlogging in the city to prevent electrocution. Cops have proposed that local WhatsApp groups are created with the local police and utility providers so that they are aware of the KMC's decision.
"Switching off street lights can lead to law and order issues as well as accidents. But this is necessary to stop electrocution. Keeping us in the loop will help us make certain arrangements to avert any untoward incident," said an officer.
Kolkata Traffic Police has also asked all its 26 traffic guards to prepare a list of all roads that need "immediate and urgent repair before the first monsoon showers". A first draft of the spots that require attention has been prepared by Lalbazar and will be handed over to KMC next week, said cops.
"Roads lying right next to tram tracks are the worst hit, like MG Road and APC Road near Maniktala Market. Similarly, stretches around Ultadanga, a few stretches in the Port area, and a couple of roads in Behala like Biren Roy Road South have been mentioned," said an officer.
Lalbazar sources said the list was being finalised, keeping in mind whether these spots were leading to non-fatal accidents or traffic congestion owing to damaged roads and potholes. The entire list will also be mailed to KMC, Port Trust, PWD, and HRBC.
Among other spots mentioned are small stretches off Bypass, Strand Road (near Merchant Office at Posta), NR Avenue, and Sahapur Road.