Midnight fire in underground power cable

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A fire broke out in an underground power cable near the Town Hall flyover at around 2.30 am on Saturday. The fire produced loud crackling sounds and flames, alarming nearby residents and passersby.

Despite reporting the incident, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company (MSEDCL) workers initially delayed repairs. Frustrated citizens escalated the complaint directly to MSEDCL Deputy Managing Director Rahul Gupta, who took swift action to resolve the issue. With the onset of summer, fire-related incidents have increased. On Saturday night, flames engulfed the underground cable near the Town Hall overbridge, leading to a complete blackout in the area. Concerned citizens gathered, unsure how to control the fire. Soon, the cable was completely burned out.

Two MSEDCL employees visited the site, inspected the situation, but left without beginning repairs. Residents were forced to spend the night in darkness. At 6 am, a complaint was sent to Rahul Gupta via text message. He immediately intervened and ensured repairs were conducted on a priority basis. Power was restored in the morning.

Grateful residents appreciated Gupta’s prompt action, especially during the ongoing Ramadan period. MSEDCL engineers Pawar, Shakeel, employees Pachawane, Bankar, and Sachin Wagh were involved in the repair work.

Photo Caption: Flames erupting from the underground power cable after the fire incident.