LUCKNOW, May 24 -- Alleging manpower shortages and unsafe working practices in the power sector, the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Tender/Contract Employees Union has warned of a possible statewide agitation after 15 outsourced electricity workers reportedly died in work-related accidents over the past month.

In a letter to the managing director of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited on Saturday, union general secretary Devendra Kumar Pandey accused power management and distribution companies of violating staffing norms laid down in a May 15, 2017 order by removing a large number of outsourced employees from service.

According to the union, 26 outsourced workers were involved in accidents while on duty in the last month. Of them, ...