Transformer blast injures four in Bengaluru

A transformer explosion in Bengaluru left four people injured and caused damage to a motorcycle, according to a video capturing the event. The blast occurred around 12:30 pm on Tuesday near Coca Cola's warehouse in Benniganahalli. The victims, identified as Narayana, Azeem Pasha, Chethan, and Lakshmi, were residents scattered across Bengaluru and were transported to a private hospital for treatment.

Footage shows individuals and vehicles near the transformer when it suddenly erupted, ejecting debris and material into the surrounding area. Ramamurthy Nagar police inspector Satish Kumar announced that the police had filed a case alleging negligence on the part of BESCOM officials. "We registered a case for negligence of BESCOM officers," Kumar informed HT.

BESCOM officials stated that their personnel had visited the injured and promised to cover their medical costs. The authorities are probing the factors leading to the transformer failure, including potential maintenance or operational lapses. On Wednesday, another incident occurred near Bagaluru Cross, where a man named Mohammed Afroz sustained injuries when a ring main unit installed close to the roadside detonated.

Afroz was walking along the footpath around 9:30 am when the RMU unexpectedly burst. He received medical attention at a hospital. Preliminary technical analysis by BESCOM indicated that the explosion may have been caused by a three-way Remote Monitoring Unit (RMU) current transformer flashover. Such failures, though uncommon, occur when an electrical arc forms around the current transformer within the RMU, leading to an explosion.

BESCOM officials stated that RMUs are utilized in medium voltage power distribution systems and that such incidents are rare. Technical teams are examining the equipment to determine the precise cause. Yelahanka police inspector Prashanth Kumar revealed that BESCOM officials had visited the site, and an investigation was underway.

"We will register a case if the victim complains to us," Kumar declared. BESCOM officials disclosed that a preliminary assessment suggested that a rat had infiltrated the RMU box near Amazon office Gate No. 3 in the Yelahanka suburb, causing a short circuit that sparked the blast. The rodent, found burnt inside the unit, was suspected to have triggered the explosion.