Officials of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company Limited (MSETCL) have been booked for act causing grievous injuries to a 52-year-old woman, a resident of Sector 4, Airoli.
On August 2, Mrunal Mahadik was on her routine evening walk at a garden maintained by the NMMC. There was a sudden explosion and people started running. “When she was running, a heavy porcelain insulator coupling of a high-tension wire fell on her head leading to heavy bleeding. Her friend, who also sustained injuries, took her to a hospital from where we shifted her to Fortis Hospital in Mulund as she was critical. She underwent a neurosurgery and is out of ICU. After her condition became stable, I approached the police,” Ms. Mahadik’s son Rajdatt (29), who filed a complaint on August 12, said.
Mr. Mahadik alleged that the incident occurred due to the negligence of the MSETCL. “The MSETCL gave us ₹2.5 lakh as compensation, but the hospital expenses have gone up to ₹6 lakh. When I sought the full compensation from the MSETCL, they said I should approach the NMMC as well since it was negligence on their part too,” he said.
Meanwhile, Satish Gaherwar, chief engineer, Vashi division, MSETCL, said the falling of the insulator is not due to lack of maintenance. “We have been doing timely upkeep. It could have happened due to high-voltage fluctuation or even due to monsoon. Ideally the space below such high-tension wires should be left vacant but the NMMC had made a garden there with jogging tracks. We have written to the NMMC seeking to shut all such gardens. The demand of the higher compensation by the complainant has been forwarded to our main office. As per the government circular, ₹2.5 lakh is the full and final settlement amount to be paid in such cases.”
No arrests yet
The police have not made any arrests yet. “We have registered the case and are investigating to identify the officers responsible for looking after the garden,” said Nishant Dhanawade, sub inspector at Rabale police station.
The case has been registered under Sections 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC.
