A tragic incident struck Hyderabad’s Bandlaguda area in the early hours of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, when two young men, identified as Tony, 21, and Vikas, 22, died from suspected electrocution while transporting a Lord Ganesh idol for installation ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. The mishap occurred around 1 a.m. near Royal Sea Hotel when the 22-foot idol, carried on a tractor from Laxmi Nagar to Puranapul, brushed against high-tension overhead power lines, sending a lethal surge through the vehicle.
A third individual, Akshay, 23, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Owaisi Hospital, where he remains in critical condition alongside two others from the group of approximately 20 participants in the procession. The Bandlaguda police, led by Inspector R. Devender, have registered a case and launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances, with preliminary reports suggesting that recent rains may have heightened the risk by affecting the power lines.
This incident follows a similar tragedy just a day earlier during a Krishna Janmashtami procession in Hyderabad’s Ramanthapur area, where five individuals perished and four were injured after a chariot contacted live wires around midnight on Sunday, August 17, 2025. The Telangana government has announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased in the Janmashtami incident and pledged to cover medical expenses for the injured, raising questions about whether similar measures will be extended to the victims of this latest accident.
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The recurring electrocutions highlight ongoing safety concerns during religious processions in Hyderabad, particularly with large idols and overhead power infrastructure. Authorities are under pressure to enhance safety protocols as the city prepares for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, set to begin on August 27, with over 1.4 lakh pandals expected to participate in idol immersions on September 6. The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi has already coordinated with the Regional Transport Authority to streamline vehicle logistics for safe idol transport, but these incidents underscore the need for stricter oversight and public awareness to prevent further loss of life.
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