By asian, mediazoneja Writer

A nine-year-old student of the Beulah All-Age School in New Longsville, Clarendon, was electrocuted yesterday evening by an unauthorised electrical connection in the community.

Danieel Ann Powell, the student, was killed at about 1 p.m. when she was taking a short cut back to school while returning from lunch.

According to police reports, Danieel had been returning from lunch with a group of students. The students walked through a short cut in the Sour Sop Turn area of New Longsville.

While travelling through the short cut Danieel Ann got entangled with an illegal wire attached to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) high tension line and was electrocuted.

The JPS in a release on Monday said they were also investigating the matter and said that initial reports are that, "the young girl came in contact with a fence that had been energised by an extension wire."

The company further said in the release that the extension wire appeared to have been installed by a resident to provide electricity from one building to another, however the wire used also transferred power to more than just the other building. "Indications are that the insulation on the wire had broken down, causing electricity to be transferred to the fence, which became energised as a result," the release said.

JPS said they regretted the incident and also urged customers to stop using illegal connections. "The JPS management expresses regret at the unfortunate incident, and urges customers to have licensed electricians install all electrical connections, which must be certified by the Government Electrical Inspectorate."

"JPS also warns customers to refrain from the illegal and dangerous practice of making electrical connections between buildings. The practice of subletting or retailing electricity not only endangers life and property, but is also a breach of the contract with JPS, " the release said.

The death occurred less than a week after an operation was carried out by the JPS in several areas across the parish to remove illegal electrical connections. Seven persons were arrested and charged for illegal electrical connections during the exercise. The May Pen police continue to investigate the matter.

-- Edited by asian at 13:38, 2008-04-09