Traders in Srinagar allege electric shocks after smart city underground wiring

August 19, 2025 by News Desk

Shopkeepers in Zaina Kadal area of Old Srinagar have raised serious concerns after several of them reportedly received electric shocks from their shop shutters ever since underground power cables were laid under the Srinagar Smart City Project.

The traders operating near Gadiyar Masjid told the news agency, Kashmir News Trust, that they live in constant fear as the problem has persisted for weeks. They said even a routine act of opening or closing shutters has turned unsafe.

“One can’t imagine the danger we are facing. We frequently receive shocks while touching shutters. This has become worse after rains. Yesterday one shopkeeper fainted after receiving a massive electric shock,” said Mukhtar Ahmad Baghdadi, a local trader.

The shopkeepers claimed that the problem started soon after the underground electric wires were installed in the area about a month ago. According to them, the situation worsens during wet weather, posing greater risks.

They appealed to the power wing of the Srinagar Smart City authorities to immediately inspect and fix the fault before it leads to a tragedy. “This is not a minor issue. A single unattended fault could prove fatal for many. Authorities must take urgent action,” said another shopkeeper.

Traders demanded that the Smart City officials and the Power Development Department jointly intervene to ensure the safety of the public and traders in the area.

While underground cabling is promoted as a safer alternative to overhead power lines, several incidents across India have shown that damaged or poorly maintained cables can leak current and pose serious dangers. In places where roads are dug up or water seeps into faulty insulation, the leakage often electrifies nearby poles, shutters, and even floors of shops.

Similar cases have been reported in Mumbai, Delhi, and Lucknow in recent years, where pedestrians and residents received shocks due to current passing through manholes and waterlogged streets. Such incidents highlight how underground wiring, though less visible, can still turn into a hidden hazard for the public.

In Kashmir, many shopkeepers have started complaining of mild shocks whenever they touch shutters, counters, or even wet flooring after rains, suggesting current seepage from underground lines. The problem worsens in old market areas with frequent digging and poor drainage.

“When the cables are damaged and exposed to moisture, the leakage doesn’t remain confined underground. The electric current can travel through soil, water, or even metallic structures like shop shutters,” Ghulam Rasool, a retired PDD official told The Kashmiriyat.. “That is why some shopkeepers feel jolts inside their shops, the current is finding a path through their flooring or shutters.” With inputs from KNT.