Burnt Alive Under a Live Wire

The Death of Truck Driver Abdul Kalam in Jaunpur and the Limits of Accountability

NHRC Case No.: 4522/24/39/2024

NHRC Diary No.: 2027/IN/2024

Category: Death Due to Electrocution (1514)

Date of Incident: 24 December 2023

Place: Village Kuravan / Nurawa, Sujan Ganj, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh

Victim: Abdul Kalam (also referred to as Kalam Murghi), approx. 30 years

Introduction

On the morning of 24 December 2023, a truck driver transporting goods through rural Jaunpur was burnt alive inside his vehicle. His truck came in contact with a live high-tension electricity wire, triggering a fire so intense that escape became impossible.

The incident, widely reported in the media, raised serious questions about public safety, electricity infrastructure, employer responsibility, and state accountability. A complaint was submitted to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking an impartial investigation and justice for the deceased worker’s family.

Nearly 19 months later, the NHRC closed the case, concluding that no negligence could be attributed to the Electricity Department.

This blog examines what happened—and what remains unresolved.

What Happened on 24 December 2023

According to the NHRC-recorded facts:

• Time of incident: 10:55 AM

• Location: Village Nurawa, Block Sujan Ganj, Tehsil Machhlishahr, Jaunpur

• Vehicle: Truck owned by Star Road Lines, Prayagraj

• Driver: Abdul Kalam, resident of Varanasi district

While passing through a chak road, a metal structure on top of the truck became entangled with a live electricity wire. As the truck moved forward:

• The wire snapped and fell on the truck

• The entire vehicle became electrically charged

• The driver was unable to exit

• The truck caught fire

• Abdul Kalam died on the spot due to electrocution and burns

Police later conducted inquest and post-mortem proceedings.

The NHRC Complaint

Human rights activist Lenin Raghuvanshi filed a complaint before the NHRC on 6 February 2024, citing:

• Media reports of the driver being burnt alive

• Alleged low-hanging HT wire

• The need for an independent investigation

• Justice and compensation for the victim’s family

The NHRC took cognizance and sought reports from:

• UP Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL)

• Directorate of Electrical Safety

• Energy Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh

• Superintendent of Police, Jaunpur

• Labour Department

Findings of the Authorities

Based on multiple reports, the NHRC recorded the following conclusions:

1. Electricity Department

• The live wire was found to be erected as per prescribed standards

• No specific measurement details were provided in the report

• After the incident, the wire height was increased to 6.5 metres

• The Electrical Safety Directorate concluded:

  “There was no negligence on part of the DISCOM”

2. Cause Attributed

The fatal accident was attributed to:

• Over-height truck

• Violation of Indian Electricity Rules, 1956

• Alleged careless driving

• Responsibility placed on the truck owner, not the state

3. Police

• Inquest and post-mortem were conducted

• No criminal negligence attributed to public authorities

4. Labour Department

• Employer paid ₹1,00,000 to the victim’s wife

• Family advised to approach Labour Court under the Employees’ Compensation Act

NHRC’s Final Decision (14 July 2025)

After reviewing all reports, the NHRC concluded:

“Further action is not required.”

The case was formally closed, and the complainant was informed accordingly.

Critical Questions That Remain

While the case is closed on paper, serious human rights concerns persist:

1. Why was a live HT wire passing through a public road area accessible to heavy vehicles?

2. Why were wire-height standards not transparently disclosed in the inquiry?

3. If standards were met, why was the wire height increased after the death?

4. Can a daily-wage driver realistically be blamed for infrastructure hazards beyond his control?

5. Is ₹1 lakh compensation adequate for a worker burnt alive while on duty?

The inquiry framework focused narrowly on technical compliance, not on the state’s duty of care toward workers and road users.

Beyond Legal Closure: The Human Rights Lens

This case reflects a broader pattern:

• Workers in informal sectors bear the deadliest risks

• Infrastructure failures are often reframed as individual fault

• Accountability shifts away from public authorities

• Compensation becomes a substitute for justice

A death by electrocution in a public space is not merely an “accident”—it is a preventable loss demanding systemic scrutiny.Conclusion

Abdul Kalam did not die because he was careless.

He died because dangerous infrastructure met vulnerable labour.

When institutions declare “no negligence” after a man is burnt alive under a live wire, it exposes the limits of accountability in cases involving the poor and working class.

Justice should not end with a closure order.

It should begin with safe infrastructure, fair compensation, and real responsibility.

This blog is based entirely on official NHRC records, inquiry reports, and correspondence in Case No. 4522/24/39/2024.