A transformer installed along a pedestrian pathway outside an Amazon office on Bagalur Main Road in northeast Bengaluru exploded on Wednesday morning, injuring two pedestrians and raising fresh concerns about the safety of electrical installations near busy public walkways. The incident occurred at around 9.40 am near Gate No. 3 of the Amazon office, close to Bagalur Cross and within the Yelahanka Old Town police station limits.
According to police, 35-year-old Mohammed Afroz suffered burn injuries to his hands after the blast caused him to fall. He was taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment and was discharged at around 1 pm. Another pedestrian sustained minor injuries and was also provided medical attention. A young girl who was walking close to the electrical installation reportedly escaped unharmed.
The explosion caused panic among commuters and pedestrians in the area, with schoolchildren also passing through the stretch at the time. Arun Gopal, who was driving through the area while taking his children to school, witnessed the incident. The explosion and its aftermath were also reportedly captured on a dashboard camera, highlighting the sudden nature of the blast.
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The Bengaluru incident followed a separate transformer explosion in Benniganahalli on Tuesday afternoon, in which four people were injured and a motorcycle was damaged. The injured were identified as Narayan, 50, Azeem Pasha, Chethan, 23, and Lakshmi, 22. Taken together, the two incidents resulted in six injuries, according to the details reported in connection with the separate transformer explosions.
The incidents have renewed attention on the placement and maintenance of electrical infrastructure along pedestrian routes and other heavily used public spaces. Residents and commuters have raised concerns about whether adequate safety clearances are maintained around transformers and whether such installations are subjected to regular inspections. The latest incident has also brought back concerns linked to a fatal transformer explosion in Bengaluru in 2022, in which a father and his daughter were killed.
Residents have urged authorities and electricity officials to inspect transformers located on or beside footpaths and assess whether they require additional protection or relocation. They have also called for regular safety checks of electrical equipment in areas with heavy pedestrian movement. The incidents have reinforced concerns that electrical infrastructure in public spaces needs stronger safety measures to reduce the risk of similar accidents.
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