A fire in a garbage heap near Prajapati Chowk on Sunday afternoon destroyed four key 33kV cables, causing a major outage at the 33/11kV Wathoda substation and disrupting electricity supply to hundreds of households.
The blaze, reported around 1 pm, once again highlighted the dangers of unattended garbage dumping near critical infrastructure. Officials said the fire spread quickly, damaging four main incomer cables, including the ‘Pardi 1’ and ‘Pardi 2’ feeders, leading to power cuts in Wathoda and nearby areas.
Teams from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) rushed to the site and initiated emergency restoration work. Engineers managed to divert the load to a 33kV mobility feeder, allowing phased restoration of supply.
Repair work is currently underway on a war footing, with damaged lines, including the ‘Pardi 1/Wathoda 1’ cable, being replaced through a private agency. Efforts are ongoing to stabilise the system at the earliest.
Authorities are likely to review safety measures around power infrastructure, especially in vulnerable zones, amid growing concerns during the summer months.
Meanwhile, MSEDCL has issued an advisory urging residents to follow electrical safety norms. Consumers have been asked to ensure proper maintenance of internal wiring, particularly in older buildings, to prevent short circuits and fire hazards. In case of fire, residents are advised to switch off the main power supply and avoid using water on electrical flames.
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