Mahottari, Aug 3: Desperate to save their crops, farmers are increasingly relying on electric pumps to extract groundwater, often without proper knowledge. This makeshift solution has proven deadly. In recent weeks, several farmers have died from electrocution while attempting to "hook" their pumps directly to high-voltage lines, a practice common in rural areas.

The fatalities paint a grim picture. On July 23, 42-year-old Moktar Dewan of Katahariya Municipality-2 in Rautahat and 40-year-old Rambabu Mukhiya of Madhav Narayan Municipality-4 lost their lives after tapping into live wires to power irrigation pumps. Just days later, on July 24, 60-year-old Asarphi Mahara of Hansapur Municipality-3 in Dhanusha died after a short circuit. In Siraha’s Golbazar Municipality-13, 62-year-old Ramprit Pandit was found dead beside his pump in the third week of July, having been electrocuted during nighttime irrigation. All deaths followed similar patterns—direct contact with unauthorized electricity connections in a desperate bid to irrigate failing fields.

DSP Deepak Kumar Raya of Rautahat Police confirmed that most victims had illegally rigged power lines from nearby electricity poles. Despite municipalities like Maulapur and Phatuwa Bijaypur spending Rs40 million and Rs20 million respectively last fiscal year to subsidize irrigation electricity bills, illegal hooking remains rampant. NEA officials, like branch chief Rambinesh Yadav of Maulapur, are alarmed: “When we’re covering the bill, why risk lives by stealing electricity?”

In response, the District Administration Office in Rautahat issued a public notice on July 28 urging coordination with NEA before operating electric motors. Assistant Chief District Officer Kiran Nidhi Tiwari stressed the need for caution: “We understand the urgency, but safety must come first.”

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) forms investigation committees when fatalities occur. If institutional negligence is proven, the family receives Rs500,000 in compensation. Between 2018 and 2023, 38 bereaved families in eight districts of Madhesh received payouts, although most deaths are attributed to user negligence. The NEA also compensates for livestock deaths—Rs15,000 per ox and Rs20,000 per buffalo—but for families who’ve lost primary earners, such aid offers little solace.

Critics argue the NEA’s safety outreach remains limited. While annual rallies mark electricity safety week, grassroots awareness is nearly absent.

According to Madhesh Province Police data from a year ago, 449 people have died from electric shock over the past five years, mostly from short-circuited irrigation pumps—turning farming from a struggle into a deadly gamble.

People's News Monitoring Service