Pune: Illegal Power Connection Led to Schoolgirl’s Death in Nana Peth, Says PMC Electrical Department
Nana Peth, 4th June 2025: The tragic death of an 8-year-old schoolgirl in Nana Peth on Sunday was caused by an illegal electricity connection taken for a hoarding of a deceased former corporator, the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Electrical Department has clarified. The pole involved in the incident is a streetlight pole maintained by the PMC, and not under the jurisdiction of MSEDCL (MahaVitaran), the state electricity distribution company.
The girl, Sayali Dambe, received a fatal electric shock after accidentally touching a pole while playing with her friends in the Doke Talim area of Nana Peth. Another boy also received an electric shock but survived and is currently in stable condition. The incident occurred around Sunday afternoon, when Sayali came into contact with a pole near Inamdar Chowk.
According to eyewitnesses, including a bus driver who was passing by, the children were pushed away from the electrified pole using a wooden stick, potentially saving the second child’s life.
In a public statement, PMC’s Electrical Department clarified that the electricity supply that caused the shock did not originate from the streetlight pole, which is maintained by the municipal corporation and situated 5 to 7 feet away from the incident spot. Instead, the shock was due to an unauthorised power connection drawn to a hoarding installed in the name of a late corporator.
MSEDCL also confirmed that they were not responsible for the power supply or maintenance in this case.
The police are awaiting an official report before proceeding with further legal action.
