Short circuit sets fire to pole-mounted electricity box in Lakhisarai
Nov 2026Published 15 Nov 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
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What happened
On Sunday morning, 15 November 2026, a box mounted on an electricity pole caught fire at Raja Bazar on Salempur Road in Suryagarha Bazar, Lakhisarai, Bihar, according to Prabhat Khabar. The incident happened at about 10:30 am, during shopping for Chhath. The newspaper reports that a short circuit in the box produced smoke and intense flames. Heat from the fire melted the covered wires on the pole, and burning fragments fell to the street below.
Shopkeepers and passers-by panicked, and local people feared that live wires falling onto the road could cause a serious accident. A fire tender was sent from Suryagarha police station and the fire was largely under control before it arrived. Local residents informed the power subgrid, which cut the electricity supply. The article does not report any injuries or damage values.
Contributing factors
The newspaper reports a short circuit in the pole-mounted box as the trigger. It says the fire broke out while festival shopping was under way in the market, and it calls for regular inspection of poles, boxes and wires.
Lessons learned
- Inspect and maintain pole-mounted boxes, cover wires and connections regularly, particularly before peak seasons when footfall in public areas rises.
- Make sure local staff and emergency responders know how to isolate supply quickly, so a fault can be cut off before burning material falls.
- Where cables are exposed to heat, check that their covers and enclosures are rated for the fault conditions they may face.
More lessons on electrical protection and isolation, worker safety and safe systems of work, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-11-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
