Tragedy in Wagholi: Young Man Dies in Procession After Electrocution
A peaceful festival night turned tragic in Pune’s Wagholi area when a 23-year-old man lost his life to electrocution during the Kojagiri Pournima procession. Organisers have been booked for negligence after investigations revealed possible breaches in safety norms.
The deceased has been identified as Nitin Mohan Pawar, a resident of Ubale Nagar. The incident occurred on the evening of October 6th when an iron structure mounted on a decorated tractor came into contact with a high-tension power line. Pawar, who was close to the structure, was severely shocked and collapsed immediately. Despite being rushed to hospital, doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Members of the Ramdas Shivtej Mitra Mandal, which organised the procession, are under scrutiny. A total of seven individuals, including the tractor driver and mandal officials, have been booked under sections 105 and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for negligence. The police alleged that prior instructions were given restricting the height and width of decorations to prevent contact with overhead electric wires, but organisers ignored those guidelines and constructed a structure taller than permitted.
Authorities are currently examining CCTV footage, questioning witnesses, and collecting evidence to determine the exact chain of events. No arrests have been made yet, and the case remains under investigation.
Residents and civic activists have expressed concern over safety during festivals, urging stricter enforcement of rules and better coordination between electricity authorities and event organisers. Many say that festival spirit should never come at the cost of human lives.
As Pune mourns this loss, city officials are warning mandals and communities to strictly follow safety norms for all public celebrations going forward.
