Pune: A horrific incident unfolded during the Eid-e-Milad procession in Pune’s Wadgaon Sheri area on Sunday morning, leading to the tragic deaths of two young men. The victims, identified as 17-year-old Abhay Waghmare and 20-year-old Zaki Bilal Shaikh, were electrocuted after climbing onto a DJ truck and waving a flag affixed to an iron rod. The flag came into contact with a high-voltage power line, causing a severe electric shock.
The procession, organized to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, was passing through the crowded vegetable market area around 10:30 am when the accident occurred. Both youths were atop the DJ vehicle, celebrating along with others, when the flag struck the overhead electrical wires. Waghmare died on the spot, while Shaikh was rushed to a hospital in critical condition. Despite efforts by medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries later in the day. Police have filed an accidental death report and initiated an investigation into the incident. The bodies of the deceased were sent for postmortem, and authorities are now examining whether any negligence contributed to the fatalities.
This tragedy has sent shockwaves through the local community. It was captured on video, which has since gone viral on social media, showing the devastating aftermath, with smoke visibly emanating from Waghmare’s body. Panic spread quickly among those attending the procession, many of whom were left in a state of shock and disbelief.
Local authorities had previously warned about the dangers posed by low-hanging overhead wires, especially during large public gatherings and processions. Despite repeated advisories, participants in such events continue to engage in dangerous practices like climbing onto vehicles and hoisting large flags, often without considering the risk of electrocution. This incident bears a stark resemblance to other recent tragedies, including one during a Ganpati procession last year in Pune, and another in Jharkhand in 2023, where multiple people died during a Muharram procession.
These deaths underscore the urgent need for identifying the root cause of the tragedy. The obsession to take out DJs on trucks and large vehicles during the Eid-e-Milad procession with the assumption that it marks a show of strength for the community should be called out by the Ulama and religious organizations more vociferously. Mere token appeals are not working. The police and administration should enforce noise pollution norms and ban the playing of DJs on moving vehicles. The use of DJs, elevated platforms, and large flags in tightly packed urban areas poses a grave hazard, that must be strictly proscribed to avoid further loss of life.
