Mumbai: The man in the picture owes his life to load shedding. Believed to be mentally unstable, this unidentified man scaled the high-voltage electric supply pole at Vasai industrial area on Friday afternoon to commit suicide.But a 17-hour power cut - a weekly affair in the area - saved him. For once, residents were not cursing the load shedding, reports Mumbai Mirror.
The drama began around 4 pm in Govrai area of Vasai. While the man's climb went unnoticed, he attracted attention after he decided to remain on the pole.A crowd gathered, and soon, people were screaming at him. Cops and fire brigade were alerted, but the man just refused to come down.
The fact that current of 22,000 voltage pass through these wires didn't deter him - the man just stared down blankly while people screamed - even as cops and Virar Vasai Municipal Corporation officials fumed. Around 5 pm, fire brigade officials brought out their tallest ladders and forced him down.
When the police asked for his name, he refused to answer. He merely mumbled that he lived in Vasai village and wanted to end his life because of daily fights with family over his unemployment.
An officer from Vasai police said, “We have not registered a case against him. He needs help. We are trying to locate his family and will get him admitted to a mental hospital.”
But municipal corporation officials were far less sympathetic.
One of them said, “What a headache he gave us! Once he was brought down, we spoke to him sternly, warning him of big trouble the next time he attempts something like this.”
