Officials probe death of elderly woman after power cut off

154- 154 Service cut for premature expenses of B1 for sick woman who relies on oxygen machine

Relatives attend a funeral rite on Wednesday for Kian Leepol, who died at her home in Wang Yang district of Nakhon Phanom on Tuesday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)
Kian Leepol passed away on Tuesday at her house in the Wang Yang region of Nakhon Phanom. Relatives will perform a funeral service on Wednesday. ( Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai )

A statement that a ill, old lady who needed an oxygen generator died in Nakhon Phanom after her strength was cut off because of an overdue bill of 1,154 ringgit has been investigated by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

According to an original record, the girl did not perish during the three-hour period when her home was without power on Tuesday, according to Mr. Anutin on Thursday.

But, Kian Leepol, 68, died later that night and officials have been asked to find out if the electricity cut does had worsened her situation.

Mr. Anutin claimed he had instructed the Provincial Electricity Authority ( PEA ), which is under his control, to provide him with a detailed report.

According to relatives, Kian was ill and lived only because she was unmarried and her husband had passed away ten years ago. She passed away on Tuesday night at home in Ban Nakham town of tambon Wang Yang in Wang Yang city of Nakhon Phanom.

On Wednesday, Kian’s family and local health officials complained that a contractor for the Seed had shut the electricity supply to the house on Tuesday morning. They claimed that because of the elderly woman’s delicate health, they had begged him not to do so.

According to friends, the property had been exempted from power taxes because of low energy usage. However, Kian recently developed body weakness and became inexhaustible, relying on a 24/7 oxygen generator and mucus vacuum device.

The devices caused the house’s electricity consumption to rise, making it billable.

A younger sibling traveled about 10 kilometers to pay the late bills at a Seed tree in Wang Yang after the house’s power meter was removed. The power supply was resumed and the sensor reinstalled.

But, the 68-year-old girl died on Tuesday night. Her family believes that the power outage had exacerbated her situation before ultimately leading to her death.

Over the past two decades, the late victim’s sister, who merely identified herself as Sutharinee, claimed that young friends had to work during the day and alternately sit overnight with the person.

The old woman, who was ill, could also eat and talk to visitors, according to the niece, who said relatives were devastated by her passing.

The PEA stated in a Facebook post that homes with sick people who rely on medical equipment can enroll for a stable power supply. The Seed did not shut down power after they registered unless payments were more than three weeks late.

On Thursday, Thawee Saranrom, director of the PEA’s Nakhon Phanom branch, met with the family members of the deceased to offer condolences and observe dead services.

He claimed the woman had never signed up for the PEA’s stable power source program.

He claimed a contractor had installed the power meter at her home on Tuesday at 9.20 am, paid the bills by 10.49 am, and then reinstalled the sensor so that the power supply could be restored at 11.49 am. The property was without power for 2 days and 29 days.

The community would not be entitled to compensation from the Peas because the person did not pass away while the power was turned off, according to Mr. Thawee. Nevertheless, he may try to work out extra compensation.

He claimed that he and Seed officials have paid for the funeral services by giving the community about 10,000 baht.

The director claims that families that use electricity for less than 315 baht per month are free from payment.

The late person’s apartment had been exempt for about seven months, but when she began using the medical devices, her energy costs in July was 348 ringgit.

The charges amounted to 620 ringgit in August and 534 ringgit in September.

Thawee Saranrom, manager of PEA’s Nakhon Phanom branch, attends a funeral right for the woman on Thursday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)

Thawee Saranrom, director of the Nakhon Phanom unit of the Provincial Electricity Authority, attends a funeral rite for Kian Leepol on Thursday. ( Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai )