Fire at Mahagenco solar project in Dharashiv's Kaudgaon halts 15 MW output, guard injured

A major fire broke out at Mahagenco's solar power project at Tambewadi in the Kaudgaon MIDC area of Dharashiv district. The fire has halted generation of 15 MW capacity at the project. Initial estimates suggest Mahagenco has suffered a heavy financial loss.

Security guard Nandu Kulkarni's legs were burnt while he was trying to put out the fire. He has been admitted to hospital for treatment. Two fire engines, from Dharashiv and Barshi, reached the spot to bring the blaze under control.

The solar project has been set up on about 300 acres in the Kaudgaon area with financial support from Mahagenco and Germany's KfW bank. About 50 MW of power is generated here daily. When a fire suddenly broke out in one section of the project, security guards tried to put it out. But the fire kept growing in intensity and local efforts fell short. It was then brought under control with the help of fire brigade teams from Dharashiv and Barshi.

After the incident, questions are being raised about the project's fire safety and maintenance arrangements. It is being asked whether there was enough staff for security and upkeep of such a large area. Information is emerging that technically skilled employees were not present at the site when the fire broke out. Questions are also being raised over whether the equipment needed to fight the fire was available.

The responsibility for cleaning the project premises and clearing grass is said to lie with the company Syntec. However, it is reported that the company's employees were not there at the time of the incident. It is feared that the fire spread through overgrown grass on the premises. There is therefore a demand for an inquiry into whether the company was carrying out maintenance and cleaning regularly.

Generation of 15 MW capacity remains shut. It is estimated that if this continues, about four lakh units of electricity could be lost in a day. Mahagenco is feared to face a financial setback as a result.

It is also emerging that complaints had been made to the joint venture Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) group about Syntec's work. Against this background, a thorough inquiry into the project's maintenance, cleaning, staffing and fire safety arrangements is being called for. The exact cause of the fire, the actual loss and responsibility will become clear only after an official investigation.