A 17-year-old boy was electrocuted in Chennai’s Tiruvottiyur on Wednesday night after stepping into rainwater charged by a live wire, triggering protests against official apathy.
The victim, Nafeel, was walking home from tuition when he unknowingly stepped into stagnant water near Thangal Peer Pailvan Dargah. He collapsed instantly. Locals pulled him out using wooden poles and plastic pipes before rushing him to a hospital, where he was declared dead. His body was later moved to Stanley Government Hospital for a post-mortem.
Outraged residents blamed the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) for ignoring multiple warnings. Over 200 people blocked traffic on Tiruvottiyur Highway for two hours, demanding accountability. Police managed to disperse the crowd only after promising action.
According to residents, the area had been dug up ten days ago for concrete resurfacing, damaging an underground power cable. Despite several complaints about electric shocks and calls to disconnect the supply, no officials visited to inspect the hazard.
“This was no accident—it was gross negligence,” Nafeel’s father, Altaf Hussain, said. “We called the authorities repeatedly, but nobody responded.”
Northern Chennai had experienced sudden rainfall that evening, causing severe waterlogging. Locals allege that exposed underground and overhead wires remain a chronic danger in the neighbourhood, yet authorities have taken no preventive steps.
Residents say the tragedy was inevitable and are demanding criminal action against responsible officials.