With the joyous festival of Diwali fast approaching, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is issuing a crucial reminder to the people of Pune: prioritize electrical safety during the festive season. While Diwali is celebrated with lights, decorations, and fireworks, MSEDCL has emphasized the importance of exercising caution to ensure a safe and enjoyable celebration.
MSEDCL’s Diwali advisory covers both public power systems and household electrical appliances to ensure that the festivities remain free of electrical hazards. Here are the key points from the advisory:
- Safety with Fireworks: When bursting fireworks near public power systems, maintain a safe distance from overhead power lines, rotors, and feeder pillars. Firecrackers and fireworks should not be ignited near these structures to avoid the risk of fire. Do not launch rockets under power lines, and fireworks are best fired in open spaces. In case of emergencies, MSEDCL has set up a 24-hour call center reachable at 1800-212-3435 or 1800-233-3435, along with a toll-free number, 1912.
- Household Electrical Precautions: For a safe home celebration, ensure the quality of electrical wiring and components used for lighting. Check for proper earthing in your home or building. If using sky lanterns, do not use damaged wires and secure them with high-quality insulation tape. Keep oil lamps away from electrical outlets and avoid overloading electrical sockets. When handling lamp strings or sky lanterns, refrain from pushing wires directly into plug holes with matchsticks, as this can lead to sparking and potential fire risks. Keep wires from electric lamps and sky lanterns away from iron grating and other metallic objects.
Alongside promoting safety, MSEDCL is also emphasizing the importance of timely payment of electricity bills. Outstanding dues from various customer categories have left the company in a precarious financial position. Pune District alone owes Rs. 203 crore 11 lakh, and other regions have also accumulated significant arrears.
Pune Regional Director Ankush Nale has appealed to customers to support MSEDCL by clearing their outstanding dues, allowing the company to continue providing seamless power supply services to the region.
