Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (Mescom) has issued an electrical safety advisory for Dasara and Navratri celebrations, warning the public and festival organisers against unauthorised power connections, unsafe pandal locations and tall decorations that could come into contact with overhead wires.
The utility said electricity must not be drawn directly from power lines. Organisers seeking a temporary connection must obtain permission from the relevant Mescom sub-divisional or branch office, according to the advisory.
Mescom also asked organisers to check the location of idol installations before setting up temporary structures. Sites with overhead power lines nearby should be avoided, while pandals and shamianas must not be erected directly under or adjacent to electricity lines. The utility urged the public to maintain a safe distance from power infrastructure during the celebrations.
The advisory also covers the use of public infrastructure during festival preparations. Mescom said banners, posters and signboards should not be tied to electricity poles or transformers. The warning applies to temporary decorations and other installations that could interfere with power equipment or create an electrical hazard in crowded public areas.
Additional precautions have been prescribed for idol immersion processions. Mescom said extremely tall flags and decorative structures must not be mounted on procession vehicles if they could come into contact with electricity wires. The utility has asked organisers to take particular care on the day of immersion, when vehicles and crowds may move along routes passing beneath or near overhead lines.
Mescom managing director Nongjai Mohd Ali Akram Shah said extra caution was essential to prevent electrical accidents during the festival period. He asked organisers to inform the concerned Mescom office if power lines obstruct routes planned for idol immersion processions.
The utility said it is prepared to temporarily suspend power supply along such routes to facilitate the safe movement of immersion processions. Any such coordination is to be taken up with the concerned Mescom office before the procession, according to the statement.
Mescom said members of the public should contact its helpline at 1912 in the event of an electrical accident or emergency. The advisory places responsibility on festival organisers to secure permission for power connections, assess sites and procession routes, and ensure that temporary structures and decorations remain clear of electricity infrastructure.
