Mrudula Narale
As the monsoon hangs over Pimpri-Chinchwad, a secret threat exists on the city’s footpaths: exposed electrical distribution boxes placed by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). These high-voltage, exposed units, strewn throughout Pimpri, Chinchwad, and Bhosari, present a lethal threat to citizens, particularly children and the elderly. With pre-monsoon storms impending, residents are raising the alarm, calling for MSEDCL to move quickly to enclose these dangers before disaster hits.
The issue is glaring. Around PCMT Chowk, where stores attract a lot of passersby, open distribution boxes remain like landmines, some covered by thick weeds that increase the danger of electrical accidents. Most do not have appropriate lids—broken, missing, or left ajar following repairs. Citizens complain that MSEDCL workers regularly leave these boxes wide open, even when there are covers. The negligence is astounding, considering the possibility of short-circuits, fires, or electrocution, particularly as unseasonal rains draw near.
Angry citizens have filed complaints time and again, only to be greeted with silence. In the suburbs, these kiosks are referred to as “death traps,” placed beneath transformers and filled with high-voltage electricity. Parents are nervous, worrying about children playing close by, while elderly citizens walking along footpaths are in constant danger. The question on all minds: will MSEDCL wait for a deadly accident to act, or will they act in the interest of public safety first?
The dangers are real. Exposed boxes are susceptible to water entry, making short-circuits more likely to ignite fires or lead to outages. In certain parts of the city, MSEDCL has gone in for underground cables, but several neighborhoods still have these old, exposed units. Citizens refer to a culture of neglect—complaints dismissed, maintenance done halfway, and accountability missing. They’re not seeking repairs; they’re seeking a complete overhaul of the system to avoid preventable tragedies.
Anger in the public is growing. In parks and roadside areas, these boxes menace everyday life, but MSEDCL’s response is lukewarm. People want to know why simple precautions, such as fixing lids or replacing damaged covers, are not routine. How close these dangers are to congested areas only adds to the sense of urgency—each day of inaction is a risk with lives. Activists and locals are demanding prompt inspections and maintenance, calling upon authorities to make this a matter of public safety urgency.
Whereas MSEDCL’s inertia breeds suspicion, citizens will not remain quiet. They dream of a city whose footpaths are safe for children to play on and elderly people to walk, not battlefields of electrical dangers. The coming monsoon lends a ticking time bomb—rain may render these boxes live dangers. Pimpri-Chinchwad is owed better than neglect; it is owed accountability. As citizens mobilize for change, the heat is on MSEDCL to repair these lethal oversights. Will they rise to defend the city, or will their complacency leave Pimpri-Chinchwad at the mercy of the next storm?
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