Pune, 25 March 2026: A tragic incident at an agricultural college in Shivajinagar, Pune, has led to the death of a 23-year-old student who suffered a severe electric shock from a water filter in the college mess.
The deceased, Chaitanya Kundalik Chavan from Beed district, was electrocuted on March 14 while inspecting the mess filter. He sustained critical injuries and was immediately admitted to a private hospital, where he was undergoing treatment. He died on Tuesday after battling for several days.
Chavan was a former student of the 2021–2025 batch and was currently pursuing a postgraduate course in Agriculture Business Management. Known for his active involvement, he had also worked as a committee member of the college’s e-mess system.
Following his death, students have expressed anger, alleging that repeated complaints about electrical faults in the mess were ignored. Student representative Nayan Adgokar said, “We have been repeatedly raising concerns about the mess filter and electrical system through new committees every year, but our warnings were ignored. Even now, there are complaints of electric shocks in some areas.”
Students have launched protests demanding strict action against those responsible and a comprehensive technical audit of the electrical systems. They have also called for transparency in the inquiry process.
The college administration had covered nearly ₹9 lakh towards Chavan’s medical treatment. Financial support was also extended with the help of Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, while additional assistance has been assured by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Vice-Chancellor Vilas Kharche of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, termed the incident unfortunate and said, “This is an extremely unfortunate incident. The college has borne nearly ₹9 lakh of the medical expenses, and support has also been extended by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, with further assistance assured by the Chief Minister’s Office. A committee has been formed to investigate, and steps will be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.”
