Fire at Kishanganj transformer repair workshop reportedly started after bird caused short circuit
Nov 2026Published 12 Nov 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
A fire broke out on Wednesday 11 November 2026 at the Transformer Repairing Workshop (TRW) in Paschimpali, a densely populated area of Kishanganj city in Bihar, India, according to Amar Ujala. Flames reportedly rose to about 50 feet, smoke was visible from a distance, and more than ten explosions were reported. A petrol pump is about 100 metres from the site. Residents of the area, which has a population of over 50,000, were reported to be alarmed.
Fire tenders attended. Local people said the first tender arrived about half an hour after the alarm, and a larger vehicle had to be called. Local administration cleared people from the vicinity and traffic on the route was halted. The electricity department's executive engineer said a bird's death on the wires caused a short circuit, that sparks then fell onto dry grass and the flames reached a transformer. This is the department's preliminary account.
The number of transformers and other equipment damaged had not been established, and the department had not made a damage assessment at the time of reporting.
Contributing factors
According to the electricity department's executive engineer, in a preliminary account, a bird's death on the wires caused a short circuit. Sparks are reported to have fallen onto dry grass beneath the wires, spreading the fire to the transformer area. The workshop is reported to lie close to a petrol pump and a densely populated area. Local people said the first fire tender arrived about 30 minutes after the alarm.
Lessons learned
- Clear dry vegetation from beneath overhead lines and around transformer storage and repair areas.
- Fit bird guards or insulated covers on overhead conductors and connections where birds perch or nest.
- Keep transformer repair workshops and stored equipment separated from fuel outlets and housing by appropriate fire separation distances.
- Agree a rapid escalation route with local fire services so that larger appliances are dispatched at the first call, and keep access routes clear.
More lessons on maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, electrical protection and isolation, spacing, layout and fire spread, fire suppression and firefighting, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-11-12. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
