Contractor’s Negligence Snaps Electric Wire In Doctors’ Colony

Nagpur: Residents of Doctors' Colony in Chhatrapati Nagar have alleged negligence by a contractor after an overhead electricity wire snapped during laying of sewage line in the locality on Saturday, leading to power cuts. According to residents, a JCB machine engaged in digging work accidentally struck the overhead electric line while its arm was being retracted, causing the wire to snap and disrupting power supply in the neighbourhood.The incident occurred while excavation work was underway as part of civic infrastructure upgrades. The JCB reportedly hit the wire while manoeuvring in the narrow lane, bringing down the line and leaving several houses without electricity. Residents claimed that after the incident, the contractor and workers left the spot without informing authorities or making arrangements for immediate repairs. As per tender norms, contractors executing civic works are required to notify the concerned department and facilitate prompt restoration if public utilities are damaged during the project.With no response from the contractor, residents said they were forced to contact Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) officials themselves to report the snapped wire and seek restoration of power supply.Dr Nitin Mankar, a resident, told TOI that the power disruption created difficulties for families in the area. "Only my elderly parents were at home when the power went out. The contractor should have informed residents immediately after the wire was damaged. This reflects a serious lack of responsibility," he said.Dr Mankar further pointed out that the restoration process was delayed because electricity department personnel could not easily access the damaged pole. "When we contacted MSEDCL, their engineers faced difficulty reaching the electricity pole because the JCB was parked in the middle of the road. The lane is already narrow and there was barely enough space even for a person to pass," he said.Residents said the situation was particularly worrying as the colony is home to many senior citizens and also houses a primary school, making uninterrupted electricity supply essential for daily activities and safety.MSEDCL officials eventually restored power through a temporary arrangement. According to residents, the department carried out an emergency stopgap measure by drawing an overhead cable connection from another nearby line to resume supply while permanent repairs were planned.Abhijeet Naitam, deputy engineer of the NMC's Laxmi Nagar zone assured that the matter would be looked into.