A 26-year-old woman died after receiving an electric shock from a CCTV pole in Ulhasnagar’s Camp 3 area, prompting police to register a case against the contractor responsible for maintaining the city’s surveillance system.
The incident took place on September 18 at night near Ganesh Ganga Apartment in the OT Section area, according to a report by Loksatta. The woman, identified as Karishma Madhwani, was reportedly on her way to visit a Ganesh festival installation when she came into contact with the CCTV camera pole.
The pole had been installed as part of Ulhasnagar’s city security infrastructure. Police said an electrical current had entered the pole, resulting in a severe shock when Madhwani touched it. She died in the incident.
The Central Police Station in Ulhasnagar has registered a case against Matrix Smart Technology Private Limited, the contractor named as responsible for maintaining the city’s CCTV network. The case concerns alleged negligence in the installation or upkeep of the infrastructure. The report does not specify the sections applied or whether any arrests have been made.
Police Sub-Inspector Sangram Malkar is investigating the case. Police said they were carrying out a detailed inquiry to determine the contractor’s responsibility and establish how electrical current reached the metal pole. The investigation is expected to examine the condition of the pole, its electrical connections and the maintenance arrangements for the CCTV system.
The death occurred during the Ganesh festival period, when public movement increases around residential areas, religious installations and temporary public gatherings. The incident has raised concern in the locality because infrastructure installed for public security allegedly became a source of danger to a pedestrian.
CCTV poles are typically placed along roads, near buildings and in other publicly accessible locations. Their safety depends on proper electrical insulation, earthing, cable management and periodic inspection. The police investigation will determine whether any of these safeguards were missing or had failed in this case.
The case also places attention on the accountability chain for public technology infrastructure. While CCTV systems are intended to support public safety, their poles, power supplies and associated equipment remain part of the physical street environment and can affect residents directly. The police inquiry will establish whether the contractor’s work breached required safety standards or maintenance obligations.
Police have not announced a separate timeline for the investigation or disclosed whether the CCTV installation at the site has been isolated or inspected across the wider area. The next steps will depend on the findings of the technical and criminal inquiry into the fatal electrocution.
