Nagpur: With the pre-monsoon showers already lashing parts of Vidarbha, the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has geared up its maintenance work and issued a public advisory urging citizens to exercise extreme caution while handling electrical equipment during the rainy season. The power utility has launched pre-monsoon inspection and repairs on a war footing to prevent potential hazards. Citizens, too, must take preventive steps at home to ensure their safety, MSEDCL stated.

Safety Guidelines for Households:

• Ensure your hands are completely dry before handling any electrical appliance.
• Prevent water from coming in contact with electrical equipment, as water is a strong conductor and may cause accidents.
• Unplug devices when not in use to save power and enhance safety.
• Regularly check your home’s earthing system. Improper earthing increases the risk of electric shock.
• Use a voltage stabilizer to protect appliances from power fluctuations.
• Avoid touching damp walls during rains, and do not place electrical devices near them.
• Those living in metal-roofed houses must get internal wiring inspected before the rains begin.
• Periodically inspect inverters, UPS units, and batteries.
• Avoid using TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, or similar appliances during thunderstorms.

Precautions Outdoors:

• Maintain a safe distance from electric poles during rains, as they may become hazardous.
• Stay away from waterlogged transformer pits or poles surrounded by water.
• If you notice sagging or fallen electric wires near your residence, report it immediately to MSEDCL officials. Do not attempt to fix it yourself.
• In case someone suffers an electric shock, do not touch them directly. Use a wooden stick or insulated object to separate them and rush the victim to a hospital.

MSEDCL has stressed that under no circumstances should citizens attempt to fix electrical faults on their own, especially if they notice damage to poles, transformers, or wiring in their locality. Instead, they should immediately report such issues to the nearest MSEDCL personnel. Pre-monsoon checks of household wiring and earthing are strongly advised to avoid mishaps.

The utility also warned against hiring untrained wiremen to restore power during outages, as this often leads to fatal accidents. Only qualified and authorised technicians should be engaged for electrical repairs, MSEDCL emphasized.

Emergency Contact:

For any power-related issues or emergencies, citizens can call MSEDCL’s toll-free helplines at 18002333435, 18002123435, and 1912, available 24x7. These numbers can also be used to report outages, electrical accidents, and billing complaints.

This monsoon, let safety come first—MSEDCL appeals to all residents to stay alert and act responsibly around electricity.