Two people were killed and five others injured after a 22-foot Ganesh idol fell during its arrival ceremony in south Mumbai on Saturday night.
The incident took place around 10 pm on Balaram Merchant Road in the Bhuleshwar area, as the idol of ‘Bhuleshwaracha Raja’ was being transported from Byculla towards the pandal. The idol reportedly collapsed around 50 metres before reaching the venue.
According to preliminary information, loose nuts and bolts in the idol’s supporting frame may have caused the structure to give way. The sudden collapse left several people trapped underneath the massive idol, prompting an immediate emergency response.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, traffic police, civic ward officials and the 108 ambulance service were quickly deployed at the spot. Rescue personnel worked to remove the fallen structure and evacuate those who had been injured.
The injured victims were taken to nearby hospitals. Doctors later declared two people dead. They have been identified as 33-year-old Sanket Nevshe and 30-year-old Brijesh Hemant Joshi.
Five others sustained injuries in the incident. Vaibhav Ghenand, 38, and Pawan Chaurasia, 25, are undergoing treatment at GT Hospital. Five-year-old Lavanya Ganer, seven-year-old Divya Ganer and 26-year-old Kunal Kashid are being treated at JJ Hospital.
Officials said all five injured people are currently in stable condition.
The incident has raised concerns over safety arrangements for transporting large religious idols, particularly during crowded festival events. The structural stability of large idols and their supporting frames is crucial when they are moved through busy roads surrounded by devotees and onlookers.
Ganeshotsav is among Maharashtra’s biggest and most widely celebrated festivals. Every year, devotees bring Ganesh idols to homes and public pandals, with elaborate arrival ceremonies marking the beginning of the celebrations.
Mumbai is known for some of the tallest and most prominent Ganesh idols. The city’s famous ‘Mumbaicha Raja’ is reportedly around 45 to 47 feet tall.
The latest incident occurred as thousands of devotees prepared for the festive celebrations, turning attention towards the need for strict safety checks during the movement and installation of large idols.
Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine whether any safety or structural lapses contributed to the tragedy.
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