**17-Year-Old Boy Battles for Life After Severe Electrocution at Worksite in Panvel**
A 17-year-old Class XII pass boy has been fighting for his life in a coma after suffering a severe electrocution accident that led to the amputation of both his arms. The incident occurred in May this year at a pandal decoration site in Chikhale village, Panvel.
### Incident Details
The boy, identified as Shubham Andhale, was reportedly forced to work under unsafe conditions by contractor Pankaj Janeshwar Phadke. While working on a ladder, Shubham came into contact with a high-tension electric wire, which caused him to fall and sustain grave head injuries along with severe burns on his limbs. As a result, doctors had to amputate both his arms from the elbows.
“Since the incident on May 1, Shubham has remained in a coma-like state, unable to move or respond, with only his heart and eyes still functioning,” said his father, Kundalik Andhale, a rickshaw driver.
### Family Struggles Amid Medical Crisis
The family is struggling to cope with the mounting medical expenses. Andhale explained that they have exhausted all their savings and taken on heavy debt to afford Shubham’s treatment.
“My son was a bright student and talented in sports. He took up labour work to help improve our family’s living conditions. But now, he is fighting for his life and weighs barely 30 kg, down from a healthy 85-kg. We have already spent over ₹11 lakh on his treatment, yet the contractor who employed him has abandoned us,” Andhale shared emotionally. “We are pleading with the government and authorities to save my son’s future.”
### Treatment and Financial Assistance
Shubham spent three months in the ICU at MGM Hospital, Kamothe, on a ventilator. Due to unbearable expenses, the family had to bring him home. His mother and brother now feed him liquid nutrition through a nasal tube.
So far, the family has received ₹1 lakh in aid from Minister Pankaja Munde, and ₹50,000 from the pandal owner, who later distanced himself from further responsibility.
### Legal Action Against Contractor
Police have booked contractor Pankaj Phadke under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
– Section 125(a): Causing danger to human life through reckless actions
– Section 125(b): Acts endangering human life where grievous hurt is caused
– Section 289: Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
– Section 351(2): Criminal intimidation
Phadke is accused of employing a minor without proper safety measures and intimidating the family when they sought accountability for the accident.
### Family’s Ongoing Struggles and Plea for Help
Besides Shubham, the family has a 21-year-old elder son who is struggling to pay his college fees. Andhale added, “My wife used to earn ₹10,000 a month, but now she must stay home to care for our son. That source of income has also stopped.”
The family continues to appeal to authorities and well-wishers for support to help save Shubham’s life and secure his future.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/panvel-teen-loses-arms-slips-into-coma-after-electrocution-at-pandal-site-contractor-booked-under-bns-for-negligence