Tree falls cause electrocution of auto driver and electrician

AMBERNATH/THANE: Two persons were electrocuted in separate incidents in Ambernath and Thane.
In the first incident late Friday, an autorickshaw driver died on the spot, while two other auto drivers were injured after a tree fell on a high tension wire and both crashed on an autorickshaw stand.
In Kolbad area of Thane, a 46-year-old electrician died after coming in contact with a live MSEDCL power line that had snapped after the branch of a tree fell on it in the early hours of Saturday.
Autorickshaw driver Vishnu Solanki was a resident of Durgapada area in Ambernath (east). The injured drivers are Rahul Bansode and Vijay Panhale. Police said due to heavy rains, a huge Gulmohar tree fell on a high tension electricity wire at the main auto stand in Shivaji Chowk where the trio was seated. Solanki, who suffered serious burn injuries, died on spot. Four autos were also damaged.
Following the incident, locals informed MSEDCL officials, who disconnected power supply to the wire after which Solanki's body was taken to Central Hospital for a post- mortem. Shivaji Nagar police have registered an accidental death report and started probe.
Blaming the civic body, environment expert Gunwant Patil said while laying roads, at least 3ft space should be left around trees. He said the tree which crashed had paver blocks attached to it, as a result of which it got weak and fell.
The Thane mishap occurred around 12.45 am when a tree branch snapped and landed on MSEDCL supply network lines affecting power supply in the area. Locals summoned the victim, Nagesh Nirakki, from the neighbouring Rabodi area where he worked as an electrician.
Santosh Kadam, chief of the Thane regional disaster management team that reached the spot immediately, said Nirakki must have accidentally touched a live wire.
The victim was rushed to Civil Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.
Residents questioned the measures taken by the municipal corporation and the MSEDCL as part of monsoon preparedness. "An audit needs to be done on the quality of work undertaken by the corporation," a local activist said.
A senior MSEDCL official said they had undertaken tree pruning along with the TMC in stretches where the supply lines run overhead in some parts of the city and suburbs. The department blamed the electrician and residents who failed to alert the MSEDCL and, instead, went ahead with the reconnection themselves.