87 Illegal Power Connections Cut in Pune After Electrocution Incident
Pune, 17th June 2025: In a citywide crackdown, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has disconnected 87 unauthorized electricity connections taken from public streetlight poles, officials from the civic body’s Electricity Department confirmed on Monday.
The action follows a tragic incident at Inamdar Chowk in Nana Peth, where a young girl was electrocuted after coming into contact with a billboard illegally powered by a streetlight pole. The incident sparked public outrage and prompted the civic body to begin inspections across Pune to detect and prevent electricity theft.
“Illegal tapping of power from municipal poles is a serious safety hazard,” said Manisha Shekatkar, Chief Engineer of the PMC Electricity Department. “We are issuing immediate warnings to offenders, and repeat violations will lead to police complaints and criminal action.”
During inspections carried out over the past few days, electricity theft was detected at 87 locations, including over 10 cases each under the jurisdiction of the Nagar Road, Kothrud-Bavdhan, Sinhagad Road, and Warje-Karvenagar regional offices. Similar but fewer cases were recorded in other regional zones.
Earlier assessments had revealed over 150 instances of electricity theft citywide. These illegal connections have now been severed as part of the ongoing enforcement drive.
Municipal officials have reiterated that repeated offenses will be dealt with more strictly, as such thefts not only violate regulations but also pose significant risks to public safety, especially during the monsoon season.
The civic body has appealed to citizens to report suspicious or unauthorized electrical setups near public infrastructure to avoid further mishaps.
