Mumbai Ganeshotsav: BSGSS issues electrical safety advisory to 12,000 mandals after Kalachowkie electrocution

Open wires lying at the stall where six people suffered electric shocks

The Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSS) on Monday issued a nine-point electrical safety advisory to its 12,000-member Ganesh mandals across the city. This comes a day after two people were killed and four others suffered injuries in an electrocution incident at Kalachowkiecha Mahaganpati, Lalbaug.

The advisory follows a Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking probe, which found that unauthorised modifications had been made to a temporary electrical connection at the pandal, leading to the fatal incident. Following the notice, the Samanvay Samiti has appealed all its member mandals to strictly comply with the electrical safety instructions.

The stall near the entrance of Kalachowkiecha Mahaganpati Mandal where the incident occurred. Pics/Shadab Khan

Naresh Dahibhavkar, Chairman of the Samanvay Samiti, told mid-day, "It was a tragic incident. Following Sunday's incident, I spoke to BEST officials and understood the issue. I had requested them to share additional guidelines, which we further conveyed to our members. The aim is to prevent similar incidents from repeating in the future."

Nine-point safety advisory

• The total connected load of the electrical system must remain within the approved load limit.
• Main wires, cables, switches, MCBs and ELCBs must have capacities appropriate to the connected load.
• Each electrical appliance must have a proper and separate earthing system.
• An ELCB must be installed for every electrical connection, and its functioning must be checked.
• All main electrical wires must be PVC insulated and safely routed through suitable PVC conduits.
• Main wires should not have joints wherever possible. If a joint is unavoidable, it must be made inside a junction box using suitable connectors.
• Armoured cables should be used wherever main power lines need to be routed outside the premises.
• The insulation resistance (IR) of every electrical connection should be checked using a suitable IR tester.
• The entire electrical system should be inspected by a licensed electrical contractor, with the test report kept available for inspection.

Make it safe: Committee

"Today, [every mandal should] recheck the safety of the electrical system. If any fault is found, the connection should not be used until it is rectified. A small electrical fault can cost the life of an innocent devotee," said Samanvay Samiti in its official statement.

The fatal incident

The electrocution incident took place around 2 am on Sunday at a temporary water and cold-drink stall set up on a footpath near the entrance of the Kalachowkiecha Mahaganpati Mandal. Following the incident, police registered an FIR under Sections 106(1), relating to causing death by negligence, and 125(b), relating to endangering life or personal safety resulting in grievous hurt, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Kamal Shetty, who operated the stall, is accused of negligently leaving an exposed electrical wire. Shetty is still yet to be traced. Senior PI Adinath Gavade and DCP Anurag Jain did not respond to calls or messages made by mid-day seeking an update on the investigation.

The accused, Kamal Shetty, is yet to be traced, and police are searching for him. DCP Anurag Jain told mid-day that no arrests have been made in this case yet. They have initiated a proper investigation into the case.

Shetty, who operated the Pepsi-Cola stall, is accused of negligently leaving an exposed electrical wire at the stall, leading to the fatal electrocution.

(With inputs from Aishwarya Iyer)