A 45-year-old woman died in Pune, while at least 42 people participating as ‘Govindas’ in Dahi Handi celebrations were injured across Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, officials said. The incidents were reported during celebrations marking the festival, with injuries recorded in Mumbai and Thane as participants formed human pyramids to reach suspended Dahi Handis. The death in Pune occurred separately after a temporary structure used at a local event collapsed.

Salma Salauddin Pathan, a resident of Old Sangavi in Pimpri Chinchwad, died after a temporary iron structure erected to support a stack of loudspeakers collapsed on her on Friday night, police said. According to officials, the Dahi Handi event organised by the Vighnaharta Mandal had concluded when workers began dismantling the structure. A heavy portion of the iron frame reportedly fell on Pathan, causing fatal injuries. The incident has raised fresh concerns about safety arrangements surrounding temporary festival installations.

In Mumbai, at least 32 ‘Govindas’ were injured during Dahi Handi celebrations, according to officials. The participants sustained injuries while taking part in events involving human pyramids, a traditional feature of the festival. Ten other Govindas were injured in Thane, taking the total number of reported injuries in Mumbai and Thane to 42. The injured participants were taken for medical treatment, though the available information did not indicate any further fatalities linked to the incidents.

Also Read: Pune Set To Emerge As India’s GCC Capital, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Notes

Dahi Handi is celebrated with large public gatherings in Maharashtra, where groups of participants known as Govindas form multi-level human pyramids to break a pot filled with curd or other offerings suspended above the ground. The activity requires considerable coordination and physical strength, and authorities have previously imposed safety guidelines for participants and organisers. Despite such precautions, injuries can occur during pyramid formations, particularly when participants lose balance or fall during attempts to reach the suspended pot.

The death in Pune has also come amid an ongoing debate in the city over the use of high-decibel sound systems, commonly referred to as DJs, during public festivals. Loudspeaker arrangements are a prominent feature of many celebrations, but their use has periodically prompted concerns over noise levels, public safety and compliance with regulations. In the Pune incident, however, police said the woman was struck by a collapsing temporary iron structure that had been erected to support loudspeakers.

The incidents have highlighted the need for organisers to ensure that temporary structures, sound equipment and participant areas are properly secured during large public celebrations. Dahi Handi events attract large crowds, making crowd management and structural safety important considerations alongside arrangements for the participating Govindas. Authorities are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the Pune death and the injuries reported in Mumbai and Thane as Maharashtra continues to host large-scale festival gatherings.

Also Read: UP Man Stages Own Kidnapping In Pune, Sends Crying Videos To Demand Rs 5 Lakh