Nagpur: Following two fatal electrocution incidents in Nagpur, Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), popularly known as Mahavitaran, has appealed to citizens to exercise extreme caution during the monsoon and strictly follow electrical safety guidelines to prevent accidents.

The advisory comes after two tragic incidents reported on Wednesday night. An elderly woman, Afroz Begum, died on the spot after accidentally stepping on a broken live streetlight wire in the Tajbagh area. In another incident in the MIDC area, Sandeep Maravi, a young man, was electrocuted while hanging wet clothes near a window.

Expressing concern over the rise in electrical hazards during the rainy season, Mahavitaran said that while electricity is invisible, its consequences can be fatal if proper precautions are not followed.

Safety Measures Inside the House

Mahavitaran has advised residents to avoid touching electrical appliances or switchboards with wet hands. If water leakage is noticed near the electricity meter, consumers should immediately switch off the main power supply.

The power utility also warned against using copper wire as a substitute for fuse wire in the main switch and recommended using only approved aluminium alloy fuse wire. Old electrical wiring should be inspected by licensed contractors to prevent accidents.

Consumers have also been advised to:

• Use three-pin sockets for appliances such as mixers, heaters and refrigerators to ensure proper earthing.
• Immediately repair electrical systems if tingling sensations are felt while touching walls or appliances, as this may indicate current leakage.
• Install Electrical Leakage Circuit Breakers (ELCB), Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCB), or Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCB) for enhanced protection.
• Switch off electrical appliances and unplug them during lightning storms.

Precautions Outdoors

Mahavitaran urged people to maintain a safe distance from broken, fallen or sagging power lines and electricity poles in public places.

The utility also advised against:

• Tying animals to electricity poles.
• Parking or leaning two-wheelers against electric poles.
• Drying clothes on iron wires, especially in houses with tin-sheet roofs, as metal is a good conductor of electricity.
• Dumping garbage near electrical installations, as it attracts animals and increases the risk of short circuits.

Report Power Supply Issues Immediately

Mahavitaran said heavy rains can lead to insulator damage, fallen trees, water ingress and power outages. In such situations, consumers should immediately report faults through the official channels.

Complaints regarding power outages or dangerous electrical conditions can be registered through:

• Mahavitaran Mobile App
• Website: www.mahadiscom.in
• Toll-Free Helplines: 1800-233-3435, 1800-212-3435, or 1912 (available 24x7)

Registered consumers can also give a missed call to 022-50897100 for outage-related services. Alternatively, they can send an SMS by typing NOPOWER followed by a space and their 12-digit consumer number to 9930399303 to lodge a complaint.

Citizen Safety Is the Priority

Mahavitaran appealed to citizens to remain vigilant throughout the monsoon season and strictly adhere to electrical safety measures to avoid preventable accidents.

“By staying alert and following these safety guidelines, we can protect ourselves and our families from electrical hazards during the rainy season. Citizen safety remains Mahavitaran’s highest priority,” the utility said in its appeal.