Mumbai, August 23, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two people were killed and five others, including two children, injured after a 22-foot idol of Lord Ganesha fell on devotees during the arrival ceremony of ‘Bhuleshwaracha Raja’ in south Mumbai, officials said.
The incident occurred between 10 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. on Saturday as people had gathered for the procession ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
A fire brigade team, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials and Mumbai Police personnel reached the spot following the incident. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals, where doctors declared two of the victims dead.
The deceased were identified as Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi.
The five injured were identified as Vaibhav Ghenand, 38, Pawan Chaurasia, 25, Lavanya Ganer, 5, Divya Ganer, 7, and Kunal Kashid, 26. They are undergoing treatment at two different hospitals.
Preliminary information indicated that loose nuts and bolts in the idol’s supporting frame may have caused it to fall. The exact circumstances are being investigated.
An elderly eyewitness said the idol’s hand broke first and his grandson, who had been sitting near its leg, moved away just in time. He said the idol was believed to weigh around 3,000 kg.
The eyewitness said Joshi, who lived in his building, was trapped beneath the idol. Local residents reportedly managed to pull him out and rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead.
The eyewitness also attributed the incident to the condition of roads in the area.
Another local resident, Rakesh Chauhan, said a large crowd had gathered for the arrival of Lord Ganesha and people were celebrating when the incident occurred.
“We didn’t realise what suddenly happened,” he said.
Ganeshotsav is among the biggest and most widely celebrated festivals in Mumbai and across Maharashtra. The 11-day Ganeshotsava celebrations are scheduled to begin on September 14 this year.
During the festival, devotees install elaborately decorated idols of Lord Ganesha in homes and public pandals, with celebrations featuring flowers, lights and modaks. Arrival ceremonies are also held as idols are brought to their designated locations for worship.
Mumbai’s tallest Ganesh idol is ‘Mumbaicha Raja’, which stands approximately 45 to 47 feet tall.
FOLLOW NOW
