Indore: Nearly 6,000 households in Jinsi, Bada Ganpati, Loharpatti, Malharganj, Kandilpura and surrounding localities remained in dark for nearly four hours as high-voltage electricity pole fell on a busy road in Ganeshganj on Wednesday.
In fact, people passing through Ganeshganj Main Road survived a mishap as an electric pole of main supply line fell during haphazard road-digging by contractor of Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC). The incident took place at 5.45 pm.
“The pole fell but fortunately it got stuck in the electricity cables of other pole and a major mishap was averted,” said Harinarayan Soni, an eyewitness. He said that if the pole had come down on road, many human lives would have lost as high voltage current was passing through the pole.
As per norms, road contractors are required to inform MP West Zone Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (west discom) if they dig near poles of main electricity supply lines. The contractor working in the locality did not inform west discom and undertook excavation near electric pole of mainline. A JCB machine removed foundation of pole that caused its collapse.
As electricity wires touched each other, passersby heard a loud sound and saw sparks emanating from wires. This created chaos in the area as people ran for cover. After the incident, the contractor stopped the work and residents called west discom officials.
“High voltage current was passing through felled pole. Supply of power in the locality was snapped. Supply through Jinsi and Fort feeders was discontinued as preventive measure,” said a discom official. Later, linemen started work to re-fix the pole and restore the line. A crane was used to put the pole back in place.
Call for help
People unaware of the incident kept calling on helpline number of west discom to complain about disruption in power supply. The supply was restored after four hours.
Police complaint to be lodged against contractor
Wets discom stated that a complaint with police would be lodged against road contractor who put life of many people at risk. “He should have informed discom about road digging so that proper preventive measures could have been taken. The contractor did not follow set rules,” said SC Mishra, engineer, wet discom, Raj Mohalla zone. He said west discom would also write to IMC to cancel his contract. “We will also levy charges of pole repair work on him,” Mishra added.