Nagpur: A fire in a garbage heap near Prajapati Chowk destroyed four critical 33kV cables, triggering an outage at the 33/11kV Wathoda substation and disrupting power supply to hundreds of households.The blaze, reported around 1pm on Sunday, once again underscored the risks posed by unattended garbage dumping near vital infrastructure.Officials said the fire spread rapidly, damaging four main incomer cables, including the ‘Pardi 1′ and ‘Pardi 2′ feeders, leading to outages in Wathoda and adjoining areas.Teams from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) reached the spot promptly and began emergency restoration work. Engineers diverted the load to a 33kV mobility feeder, enabling phased restoration of the power supply.Repair work is underway on a war footing, with damaged cables, including the ‘Pardi 1/Wathoda 1′ line, being replaced by a private agency. Efforts are being made to stabilise the system at the earliest.Authorities are expected to review safety measures around power installations, especially in vulnerable zones, amid rising concerns over infrastructure safety during summer.Meanwhile, MSEDCL has issued an advisory urging citizens to follow electrical safety norms. The utility stressed the need to maintain internal wiring, particularly in older homes, to prevent short circuits and fire hazards. Residents have been advised to switch off the main power supply in case of fire and avoid using water on electrical flames.
