The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival ended on a somber note with at least eight deaths and 13 missing persons reported during idol immersions in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, plus one drowning in Uttar Pradesh. In Maharashtra, four drowned in swollen rivers and wells across Pune, Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Thane, and Amravati districts, with searches ongoing by state disaster teams and NDRF amid heavy rains. Additionally, a man died from electrocution in Mumbai's Sakinaka area when a Ganesh idol contacted a hanging wire, injuring five others during a procession.

In Madhya Pradesh's Raisen district, two teenagers—Anuj Sahu (16) and Nitin Sahu (17)—drowned in a stream in Ghatkheda village on Saturday evening. The cousins fell when soil gave way during a family immersion; three others swam to safety, but Anuj's body was recovered after an hour, and Nitin died despite CPR and hospital treatment. In Uttar Pradesh's Mathura, 22-year-old Amit from Hathras drowned in the Yamuna river while bathing post-immersion, with his body retrieved after a two-hour diver search.

Positive amid the tragedies, three men swept away in a Palghar creek were rescued using a Ro-Ro boat. Meanwhile, Mumbai's iconic Lalbaugcha Raja immersion, drawing thousands to Girgaon Chowpatty, was delayed by high tide and technical issues, shifting to a raft at 4:45 PM with final visarjan expected around 11 PM—over 28 hours after the procession began.

These incidents highlight persistent risks during immersions, where monsoon conditions and crowds amplify dangers. Authorities urge enhanced safety measures, as millions bid emotional farewells to Lord Ganesha nationwide.