A dumper driver sustained injuries but narrowly escaped electrocution on Tuesday afternoon in Khopoli, Navi Mumbai. The incident occurred when the driver was unloading soil and the upper portion of the dump bed came into contact with an overhead live wire.
Sequence of Events
The driver, who was alone in the vehicle, jumped out of the truck immediately after the contact. However, the dumper soon caught fire. The incident was reported at Vadval under the Khalapur police station. The driver reportedly misjudged the height of the dump bed relative to the electrical wire.
Fire and Rescue Operations
Within two hours, the dumper was completely gutted as the flames spread to the tyres. Fire brigade teams from Tata Power and the Khopoli Municipal Council (KMC) rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire. The victim was taken to the KMC-run Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar hospital and later discharged after treatment.
Khalapur police inspector Sachin Pawar stated, "The dumper was mostly gutted by the time fire brigade teams reached the spot after receiving the alert. They doused the fire." Many local residents expressed concerns about safety around overhead power lines.
