Crop residue loaded in trolleys comes in wire contact, burnt

A major fire was reported last night near village Wahid, Phagwara, when several trolleys loaded with crop residue came in contact with low-hanging electricity wires. The collision sparked an immediate fire, which quickly escalated, resulting in significant property damage.

According to villager Palwinder Singh, the trolleys belonged to a private company and were transporting crop residue through the area. Due to the dangerously low height of the overhead electric wires near a local transformer, the trolleys came in contact, leading to electrical sparking and an instantaneous blaze.

Singh further stated that along with the damage to the trolleys, private property in the vicinity also suffered extensive damage. Although no casualties have been reported, the fire is estimated to have caused financial losses running into lakhs of rupees.

In response to the incident, villagers have demanded that the electricity department should take urgent steps to increase the height of power lines in the area and implement strict monitoring mechanisms to prevent such accidents in future. The Phagwara police have registered a case under Sections 341, 506, 435, IPC, against unknown persons in this regard.