Bhiwandi: In a tragic incident, a 50-year-old fire department employee lost his life while attempting to rescue a crow in Bhiwandi’s Temghar area. His colleague was seriously injured while they tried to free the bird that was trapped in a kite string near a high-tension electric wire. A rescue team was dispatched from the fire station following a call from onlookers. The rescue team included Fireman and Duty In-charge Asaram Aaghav, driver Shankar Bendkoli, and firemen Nitin Pashte and Sandeep Kokare. While attempting to free the bird from the high-tension wire, firemen Asaram Aaghav and Nitin Pashte reportedly came into contact with a live electric wire and suffered severe electric shocks. Both injured employees were immediately rushed to a private hospital. Doctors declared fireman Nitin Pashte dead on arrival, while Asaram Aaghav was admitted for treatment.Hospital sources confirmed that Aaghav’s condition is stable and he remains under medical observation. Following the incident, Bhiwandi fire department employees expressed deep sorrow over the loss of their colleague and alleged serious negligence by the authorities. They claimed that substandard safety equipment is being provided to fire personnel, forcing them to work in highly risky conditions. Fire staff further alleged that Bhiwandi, being a major warehouse and industrial hub, operates with just 32 fire department personnel, which severely affects response and safety standards.According to fire department staff, before the rescue operation began, it was clearly stated that the electricity supply to the high-tension wire should be disconnected. Believing that the power had been cut, the staff climbed the pole to rescue the bird. However, the wire was still live, leading to the fatal accident. The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by kite strings during Makar Sankranti and the urgent need for better coordination between fire services and electricity authorities.
