Two Dead, Five Injured After Ganesh Idol Collapses During Mumbai Arrival Ceremony

Two people were killed and five others, including two children, were injured after a large Ganesh idol of ‘Bhuleshwaracha Raja’ fell during its arrival procession in south Mumbai, civic officials said.

The incident occurred around 10 pm on Saturday on Balaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana at Jay Ambe Chowk in Bhuleshwar. The idol was being transported to Bhuleshwar when it suddenly fell, injuring several people gathered during the procession.

The injured were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Two of them later succumbed to their injuries, according to civic authorities.

The deceased were identified as Sanket Nevshe, 33, and Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 30. The five injured were identified as Vaibhav Ghenand, 38, Pawan Chaurasiya, 25, Lavanya Ganer, 5, Divya Ganer, 7, and Kunal Kashid, 26. The injured were reported to be in stable condition and remained under medical care.

Following the incident, fire brigade personnel, police teams, ambulance services and civic ward staff were deployed at the site to assist with rescue and emergency operations.

The accident comes ahead of Ganeshotsav, one of Maharashtra’s biggest and most widely celebrated festivals. The 10-day festival is scheduled to begin on September 14 this year, with elaborate celebrations planned across Mumbai and other parts of the state.

During Ganeshotsav, idols of Lord Ganesh are installed in homes and public pandals, where devotees offer prayers throughout the festival. Mumbai is particularly known for its large-scale celebrations, with thousands of devotees participating in idol installation and arrival processions.

Every year, elaborate Ganesh idol arrival processions are organised across the city, featuring music, decorations and large gatherings of devotees. The incident has highlighted the safety challenges associated with transporting large idols through crowded city streets during the festival season.