Court orders KE to pay Rs13.5m in electrocution death case

A senior civil judge at the City Court has ordered K-Electric to pay Rs13.5 million in compensation to the family of a man who died after being electrocuted during rainfall in Karachi in 2019.

The case was filed after the death of a citizen, identified as Sheikh Saad, who was reportedly electrocuted when he came into contact with a live electric source during heavy rain. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that residents had repeatedly complained to K-Electric about suspected electric current in a utility pole, but no corrective action was taken.

The counsel maintained that K-Electric failed in its duty to properly maintain its electrical infrastructure and ensure public safety, which ultimately led to the fatal incident.

However, K-Electric’s lawyer contested the allegations, stating that the pole in question did not belong to the company and that the leakage of current originated from wiring connected to a private generator. The defence also argued that the deceased had placed himself in a dangerous location, contributing to the incident.

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After hearing both sides, the court observed that electricity distribution companies carry an exceptional responsibility to ensure public safety. The judgment noted that the presence of third-party wiring on a pole does not absolve K-Electric of its duty to maintain safe conditions in public spaces.

The court further stated that the existence of electric current in a public utility structure itself reflects negligence. It also held that the deceased’s attempt to save a child could not be considered complete negligence, adding that the law takes a more lenient view of actions taken to save human life.

The court directed K-Electric to pay the compensation amount within 90 days to the legal heirs of the deceased. The ruling highlights ongoing concerns regarding electrical safety in urban areas, particularly during monsoon seasons when such incidents tend to rise.