Pune: A 12-year-old girl, Divya Shekhar Bhosale, was seriously injured after coming into contact with the high-voltage wire of an HT Feeder Pillar near Viman Nagar Chowk.
The shocking incident has exposed the negligence of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL / Mahavitaran), as the HT Feeder Pillar box was left unsecured, putting residents in danger. Divya, who lives in Shirur, had come with her mother to sell roses in the area.
Around 11:30 a.m., while Divya went to relieve herself near one of the HT Feeder Pillar boxes, she accidentally touched the high-voltage wire, resulting in severe electric shock. She was rushed to Sassoon Hospital, where her condition is reported to be stable.
The HT Feeder Pillar box near Viman Nagar Chowk had no lock, and it was simply closed with a wire. The area around the pillar is home to families who sell roses and other goods to earn a living.
Mahavitaran officials have stated that they have refrained from installing a fence around the box to prevent people from dumping garbage and to avoid obstructing pedestrian walkways. However, this decision has now come under scrutiny, as the lack of security measures has led to dangerous accidents like this one.
In response to the incident, Ashok Jadhav, Executive Engineer at Mahavitaran, Kalyaninagar, confirmed to mediapersons that all HT Feeder Pillar boxes in the region will now be locked and fenced for safety. The move aims to prevent further accidents and ensure public safety in the area.
