Substation fire cuts power across Pimpri-Chinchwad; church demolition sparks civic dispute
Pimpri-Chinchwad faced two significant civic disruptions this week: a fire at the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Corporation's Chinchwad substation knocked out power supply across the twin-city area, affecting hundreds of thousands of residents and commercial establishments. Separately, an overnight demolition drive by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation razed a church in Kalewadi, with church members alleging the action violated a court stay order. The city also drew security attention when the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad conducted raids targeting individuals with alleged links to a Pakistan-based gangster.
Fire at MSETCL Chinchwad Substation Disrupts Power Across Pimpri-Chinchwad
A fire that broke out at the Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Corporation (MSETCL) substation in Chinchwad disrupted power supply across Pimpri-Chinchwad on September 6, 2026. The fire was brought under control after emergency response, but affected sections of the substation were kept shut down to allow for safe repair and assessment work. Officials from MSETCL and the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) worked to restore power to areas that could be serviced while keeping the damaged section offline. The Chinchwad substation is a key node in the electricity grid serving Pimpri-Chinchwad, one of Maharashtra's largest industrial and residential urban centres. The outage caused significant disruption to households, businesses, and industrial units across the area, with separate reporting noting that as many as 3.1 lakh people were affected in the broader Pune region. Power restoration efforts were ongoing as officials assessed the extent of the damage to substation equipment. Residents and local businesses were urged to conserve power during the restoration period. The incident highlighted the vulnerability of critical electricity infrastructure to fire-related failures and the cascading impact such events can have on a densely populated urban area like Pimpri-Chinchwad. [5]
🤝 Church Demolished in Kalewadi as Members Cite Court Stay, PCMC Defends Unauthorised Construction Drive
A church in the Tapkir Mala area of Kalewadi, Pimpri-Chinchwad was demolished in a late-night civic operation on September 7, 2026, drawing protests from church members who alleged the action was carried out despite a court stay order and shortly before a scheduled court hearing. The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) maintained that the structure was demolished as part of a drive against unauthorised constructions in Rajwade Nagar, Kalewadi, under the G Ward office, and that about 7,400 square feet of unauthorised construction was removed. Church members, however, said they rushed to the site after being informed during the night of the possible demolition, only to find a large police contingent and heavy machinery already deployed. A member named Rose, who said she had been associated with the church for about ten years, said members informed civic officials about a court stay and a hearing scheduled for the following Monday. She alleged that officials forced members away from the site and that members were threatened when they attempted to photograph or record the proceedings. Another member, Sam, said around twenty to twenty-five people gathered at the site and began praying. He said heavy machinery, lighting equipment, and a large police deployment arrived at around 3 am. The community's account of events, combined with the PCMC's position on unauthorised construction, has left the matter contested and awaiting further legal scrutiny. [2]
🗳️ Maharashtra ATS Conducts Raids in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad in Gangster Nexus Case
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) launched simultaneous raids across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad targeting individuals allegedly linked to Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti. The operation, reported by the IANS news agency in July 2026, formed part of a broader law enforcement effort to map and disrupt networks operating in the state that are alleged to have connections with organized crime figures based in Pakistan. The raids reflect ongoing concerns among Maharashtra's security agencies about the presence of local operatives who may be facilitating criminal activities tied to overseas gangsters. Pimpri-Chinchwad, as one of Maharashtra's fastest-growing industrial cities, has drawn law enforcement attention in this context. The Maharashtra ATS did not immediately disclose the names of those targeted or the outcome of the raids at the time of reporting, but the simultaneous nature of the operation across Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad pointed to a coordinated effort based on intelligence inputs. Authorities were expected to follow up with further investigations and potential arrests as the case developed. The operation underscores the ATS's active role in monitoring and acting on potential cross-border criminal links in the state. [7]
Sources: [5] Mid-Day · [2] catholicconnect.in · [7] telanganatoday.com