Pune: Chandannagar Police have booked four persons, including president of a local group 'MIM Boys Young Friends Circle', in connection with the electrocution incident that resulted in death of two young boys in Wadgaon Sheri during a religious procession on Sunday (September 22).
The two young men lost their lives after coming in contact with a high-tension wire while waving a flag from a tractor during the religious procession.
The flag’s steel rod touched an overhead power line, causing the electrocution of two participants.
The victims were identified as Zakaria Bilal Shaikh (20) and Abhay Waghmare (17) were standing on a makeshift stage on top of a tractor when the accident occurred.
The event took place at around 10:45 AM at Bhaji Mandai Chowk, Anand Park Road, Wadgaon Sheri.
According to police reports, the procession was organized by a local group known as the "MIM Boys Young Friends Circle."
Four members of the organizing committee, including the group's president, Hussein Kadar Shaikh (35), have been charged with negligence.
The others accused include Vikas Achyut Kamble (32), the driver of the tractor, Akshay Bapu Lawand (28), responsible for assembling the sound system, and Santosh Dhavji Date (36), who installed an LED screen on the vehicle.
The tragedy occurred when Abhay Waghmare climbed onto an iron frame on the tractor to wave a flag mounted on a steel rod.
The steel rod accidentally made contact with a high-voltage wire above, instantly electrocuting him. Zakaria Shaikh, who was also nearby, was struck by the electric current and died on the spot.
The police had issued specific instructions to the group, including avoiding the use of metallic rods and maintaining a safe height for the structures involved in the procession.
However, the organizers failed to comply, leading to the fatal incident. Vikas Kamble had removed the side railings of the tractor to install a wooden stage without proper authorization, while Akshay Lawand had stacked sound systems, creating a towering structure.
Santosh Date further contributed to the problem by installing an iron frame with an LED screen, exceeding the permissible height limits.
