Sans protection, transformer poses danger to residents here

Residents of Old Pensioners’ Mohalla at Cottonpet in the City are these days perturbed by the presence of an unguarded transformer.

While the electrocution of five-year-old Reehan Pasha is still fresh in the memory of Bangaloreans, elsewhere, there might be some such mishaps waiting to happen. 

The transformer, belonging to the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Bescom), is erected at the centre of the road junction near Ambedkar Colony. 

Without the protective cage around it, it stands dangerously, exposing the residents to unwarranted dangers.

The transformer, with a power distribution capacity of 250 KV, stands barely a few metres from a polio vaccination centre.

A volunteer of the polio vaccination drive said the vaccination camps are regularly held here and it is difficult to control children from straying near the transformer.

The transformer lacks warning signs and the high tension wires connected to it pose constant danger to passersby. 

The junction leads to a narrow lane dotted by houses and commercial outlets. Several motorists whirr past the transformer and the danger is real.

 Apathy

Junaid Mohammed, a resident, said, “Numerous complaints to Bescom officials to shift the transformer elsewhere have fallen on deaf ears.”

Bescom Superintending Engineer G Sheela said: “We had recently launched a drive to check whether the protective cages around transformers in the City are in good condition. We missed out on this one. We shall look into it soon.”