Two people were killed and five others injured after a 22-foot Ganesh idol fell on them during the arrival ceremony of the “Bhuleshwaracha Raja” in south Mumbai late Saturday night. The incident occurred at around 10 pm on Balaram Merchant Road in the Bhuleshwar area, where people had gathered for the religious procession. Preliminary information indicated that the idol collapsed because of loose nuts and bolts in its supporting frame, although further details regarding the incident were awaited.
The Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, traffic police, 108 ambulance service and civic ward personnel were quickly mobilised after the idol fell. Rescue teams attended the scene and shifted the injured people to nearby hospitals for treatment. Doctors later declared two of the victims dead. The deceased were identified as 33-year-old Sanket Nevshe and 30-year-old Brijesh Hemant Joshi. Authorities were continuing to assess the circumstances surrounding the collapse and the condition of the structure involved in the incident.
Five people injured in the accident were identified as Vaibhav Ghenand, 38, Pawan Chaurasia, 25, Lavanya Ganer, 5, Divya Ganer, 7, and Kunal Kashid, 26. Ghenand and Chaurasia were admitted to GT Hospital, while the two children, Lavanya and Divya, along with Kashid, were taken to JJ Hospital. Officials said all five injured victims were in stable condition. The incident occurred during preparations connected with the arrival of the Ganesh idol, turning a religious gathering into a scene of panic and emergency response.
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The preliminary assessment that loose nuts and bolts in the frame may have contributed to the collapse has raised questions about the structural arrangements used to transport and display large idols. Such installations require careful handling and secure support, particularly when they are moved through crowded areas during festival-related processions. Further examination by authorities is expected to establish the precise cause of the collapse and determine whether any safety lapses contributed to the accident.
Ganeshotsav is among the most widely celebrated festivals in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, with devotees bringing idols of Lord Ganesha to homes and public pandals. Arrival ceremonies and processions are commonly held as part of the celebrations, attracting large numbers of people. The scale of idols can vary significantly, with some installations reaching several metres in height. Mumbai is also known for some of the tallest Ganesh idols, including the “Mumbaicha Raja”, which is reported to stand around 45 to 47 feet tall.
The deaths during the Bhuleshwar ceremony have highlighted the importance of safety measures when large religious idols are transported or assembled in crowded public spaces. Emergency services responded quickly to the incident, while the injured were taken to hospitals for treatment. As authorities assess the circumstances leading to the collapse, the incident has cast a sombre shadow over the festival preparations in the city and raised renewed concerns about ensuring that large structures used during public celebrations are properly secured.
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