Pune: Two Youths Die from Electric Shock During Eid-e-Milad Procession in Vadgaonsheri

Vadgaonsheri, 22nd September 2024: Two youths lost their lives after being electrocuted during the Eid-e-Milad procession in Vadgaonsheri. The deceased have been identified as Abhay Amol Waghmare (17) and Zakaria Bilal Shaikh (19), both residents of Wadeshwar Nagar, Vadgaonsheri.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning during a procession organized by the Muslim community to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad. According to Senior Police Inspector Sanjay Chavan, the MIM Boys Group from Vadgaonsheri Bhaji Mandai had organized the event, which featured speaker walls mounted on a tractor. Several youths were dancing atop the speaker setup, holding flags.

As the procession reached Bhaji Mandai Chowk, the steel flagpole in Abhay Waghmare’s hand came into contact with a high-tension wire, causing him to suffer a severe electric shock. Zakaria Shaikh, who was standing next to him, also received a fatal shock. Both were rushed to a nearby private hospital, but they were declared dead upon arrival. Their bodies have been sent to Sassoon Hospital for autopsies.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of such public events, where DJ walls and loud music are often used without proper safety precautions. The incident has sparked criticism from local residents, who have long complained about the disturbance caused by such processions. Social and religious organizations have repeatedly demanded action against DJ sound systems, but their requests have seemingly been ignored by authorities.

The Chandan Nagar Police are continuing their investigation into the matter.