BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 20th January 2026: A family in East Kolabaria Gram Panchayat under Belonia subdivision narrowly escaped a major fire today after smoke began emanating from their refrigerator. The incident, which damaged household electrical lines, has sparked allegations of negligence against the company contracted to install smart meters.
Local sources informed that the Power department had recently installed a smart meter at the residence of Krishnapada Das in the Maichhara area. Since its installation, the family reportedly experienced recurring electrical issues but refrained from lodging a complaint, assuming the problems would resolve on their own.
Today, smoke was suddenly noticed coming from the refrigerator. Acting swiftly, Krishnapada’s son, Kanti Das, switched off the main power supply, preventing the situation from escalating into a full-scale fire. The family later informed the village head and subsequently reported the matter to the Electricity Department. Officials later removed and repaired the faulty smart meter.
Kanti Das alleged that inexperienced personnel were deployed to install the device, leading to the hazardous incident. He further accused the contracted company of irresponsibility, claiming their negligence endangered the family’s safety.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the allegations.
