A major accident occurred late Saturday during the arrival procession of the Bhuleshwar Cha Raja Ganpati idol in Mumbai, resulting in two deaths and five injuries. The 22-foot-tall idol was being transported from Byculla to the Bhuleshwar area when it toppled approximately 50 metres short of the designated pavilion.
The exact reason for the idol’s fall remains unclear. Several people were trapped beneath the structure when it collapsed. Emergency services, including the fire brigade, local police, and personnel from the State Reserve Police Force, rushed to the site and began rescue operations immediately.
The deceased have been identified as Sanket Nevashe, aged 33, and Brijesh Hemant Joshi, aged 30. Among the five injured are two young girls, aged five and seven. The injured are receiving treatment at G.T. Hospital, Reliance Hospital, Saifee Hospital, and J.J. Hospital.
The incident took place amid the early preparations for the Ganesh festival, when many public mandals transport large idols to their pandals ahead of the main celebrations. Bhuleshwar Cha Raja is one of the well-known public Ganesh idols in the city, and its arrival is traditionally marked by a ceremonial procession.
Authorities secured the area and worked to bring the situation under control following the accident. Investigations into the precise cause of the collapse are expected to continue. The event has cast a sombre note over the festive atmosphere in the locality as families and organisers come to terms with the loss of life and injuries.
Medical teams are attending to the injured, with particular attention given to the condition of the two children. Officials have urged organisers of similar processions to exercise heightened caution while transporting large idols through crowded urban routes.
The tragedy underscores the risks associated with handling oversized religious structures during festival preparations in densely populated areas. Further updates on the condition of the injured and the findings of the inquiry are awaited.