The alertness of Sub-inspector Umesh Sardar saved the lives of about 20 people, who were rushing to help four others who were electrocuted during the immersion of the Sadashivanagar Ganesh idol, here on Wednesday night. Six people were injured.
An official said the incident took place as the mandal had not followed HESCOM’s instructions. “HESCOM had directed that idols taller than 15 foot should not be installed as electric wires on the streets are not high enough. The Sadashivanagar Mandal’s eco-friendly Ganesh idol 25 -28 feet high,’’ he added.
A youth sitting in the tractor reportedly lifted the overhead electric wire with a stick to let the idol pass. However, the wire slipped and got stuck to an iron rod inside the idol. Electricity passed into the vehicle and power supply got automatically disconnected.
Most of the 15 people sitting in the vehicle were jolted and fell on the road. But the loss of power supply created confusion in the crowd. Sardar, SI, Doddawad police station in Bailhongal, was on deputation at the spot. When the incident occurred, he quickly realised what had happened and forcibly moved all those who were near the tractor in the procession to another place.