A 16-year-old boy, Shaurya Chanpuria, died after receiving a fatal electric shock from a live pole at a Ganesh pandal in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, on Wednesday night, 24 September 2025, according to police. The Class 11 student collapsed while leaving the festival site and was declared dead at a local hospital, raising serious questions about electrical safety at public religious gatherings.

How the incident unfolded

The tragedy occurred in Jasuja City Phase-3, under the jurisdiction of the Dhanwantari Nagar police outpost, when Shaurya was walking home with friends after attending a Maha Aarti at the pandal. According to police, an electric current was passing through a metal pole supporting the pandal structure. Shaurya came in contact with the pole and immediately collapsed.

He was rushed to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment. Dhanwantari Nagar police outpost in-charge Durgesh Maravi stated: 'Information was received around 9.30 pm that a young man had been brought to the Medical Hospital after suffering an electric shock. Doctors declared him dead.'

What investigators have found so far

Preliminary investigation revealed that the pole had become electrically charged, and Shaurya inadvertently touched it while departing the venue. His body was sent to the Medical College mortuary, and a post-mortem examination was scheduled. Notably, several children who attempted to rescue Shaurya also received electric shocks while trying to lift him.

In a troubling development, members of the organising committee reportedly told police that they were aware the pole carried current and had informed the person responsible for installing the tent — suggesting that those in charge may have had prior knowledge of the hazard.

Family demands accountability

Shaurya's family alleged that the presence of live current in an open, publicly accessible area amounted to serious negligence and demanded action against those responsible. Police outpost in-charge Maravi said: 'Who was responsible for the negligence and at what level it occurred is being investigated. Further action will be taken on the basis of the facts that emerge during the probe.'

A disturbing pattern in Jabalpur

The incident has revived memories of a near-identical tragedy in Jabalpur the previous year, when two children died after coming in contact with an electrically charged iron pipe at a Durga Puja pandal near Bargi Hills under Tilwara police station limits. Public Works Minister Rakesh Singh had ordered a high-level inquiry into that incident — yet the lapses in electrical safety at festival pandals appear to have persisted. This is, reportedly, the second such fatal electrocution at a Jabalpur festival pandal in as many years, pointing to a systemic failure in safety oversight at public religious events in the city.

What happens next

Police have launched an investigation to determine the precise chain of negligence, and action is expected once the inquiry concludes. The post-mortem report is likely to provide additional clarity. Authorities have not yet announced any arrests or formal charges, but the family's demands and the committee's alleged prior knowledge of the hazard could shape the legal proceedings ahead.