Ramanthapur Power Mishap Shocks Ganesh Pandal Organisers
RWAs, organisers seek inspections, insulated wires, and safety drills before festivals
Hyderabad: The electrocution of five persons during the Sri Krishna Janmashtami Shobhayatra in Ramanthapur has sent shockwaves across Hyderabad and left Ganesha Pandal organisers deeply concerned.
Following the mishap, resident welfare associations (RWAs) are demanding a thorough inspection of high-tension wires along procession routes. They stress that only insulated lines — coated with protective plastic and rubber — should be permitted, even if part of the cost has to be borne by property owners or builders in the locality.
While the organisers of the Khairatabad Ganesh pandal and Balapur Ganesh pandal have experienced teams that conduct route inspections, manage decorative structures, and maintain fire safety equipment, the smaller pandals — often run by local youth or colony associations — lack the same expertise. This makes them more vulnerable to accidents.
Bhagavanth Rao of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi (BGUS) noted that every year, precautionary briefings are held with pandal organisers and line department officials. However, many feel that smaller pandals with inexperienced volunteers need stricter guidance and mandatory safety drills before being granted permission.
“Ganesh Chaturthi is fast approaching. It is high time we had a mechanism to ensure that every high-tension wire along procession routes is safe and intact,” said social worker Harish Daga. “Unsafe lines should be replaced, or permissions withheld until safety measures are in place. If needed, part of the expenditure can be recovered from builders or owners.”
A pandal organiser at Basheerbagh, who hosts processions annually in front of his establishment, pointed out that smaller pandals often resort to dangerous practices such as pushing up sagging wires with bamboo poles.
RWAs emphasised that while granting permissions for Ganesh pandals, electrical safety should be given top priority. Without urgent corrective steps, the joy of celebrations risks being overshadowed by preventable tragedies.
