Ganesh procession deaths raise concerns over loud DJs, firecrackers
Hyderabad: Several deaths reported during Ganesh celebrations across Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have renewed scrutiny of loud DJs and prolonged physical exertion during processions. The reports emerged as the Bombay High Court banned firecrackers on public roads and called DJs, loudspeakers and laser beams during religious processions “completely unwarranted”.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur, Class 2 student Vaishnavi Tiwari collapsed inside her classroom on Monday. A Ganesh immersion procession playing loud DJ music was passing Divine Public School at the time.
CCTV footage reportedly showed Vaishnavi standing briefly, stumbling and sitting down before collapsing again. Teachers took her to the District Memorial Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
The school management attributed her deteriorating condition to the loud music outside. However, senior doctor Giridhar Chauhan told the media the exact cause could not be determined without a post-mortem examination.
The family took the body to Siddharthnagar without a post-mortem examination, according to reports. City Circle Officer Abhishek Singh said police were examining the CCTV footage, although no complaint had been filed.
Deaths reported in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana
In Telangana’s Nalgonda district, 34-year-old Ramu collapsed after dancing during a procession in Tirumalagiri mandal, Siasat reported. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
In Andhra Pradesh, Kakarlamoodu Yesu collapsed while dancing during an immersion procession in Tadepalligudem in West Godavari district. Local residents took him to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, the report said.
Two deaths were reported in Kurnool and Nandyal districts on Friday. Shivamma, 36, fell ill during celebrations in E Tandrapadu, while Ganesh Goud, 23, died after returning home from an immersion event.
Two earlier deaths were also reported from the erstwhile Anantapur district. Srikanth, 35, collapsed during a procession in Somandepalli, while Ashok Kumar, 28, collapsed near a Ganesh pandal in Gooty.
Media reports described several of the deaths as suspected cardiac arrests. No consolidated police or medical findings establishing their causes were available.
High Court questions festival noise
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered a complete ban on bursting firecrackers on public roads. The order followed the court’s suo motu cognisance of severe noise and air pollution during processions.
A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale questioned whether loudspeakers and firecrackers were necessary for religious observance. It cited the peaceful Wari pilgrimage to Pandharpur as an example of a procession conducted without loudspeakers.
The court said firecrackers on public roads were dangerous and contributed to toxic air pollution. It also asked authorities to regulate noise levels during processions and act against violators.
Advocate General Milind Sathe told the court that Mumbai Police had already restricted unauthorised assemblies from September 9 to September 26. He said a complete ban on firecrackers and loudspeakers was also in place.
The bench questioned whether those restrictions were being enforced, saying breaches were apparent. It directed permitted venues and processions to display their police approvals prominently and said the requirement would apply to all festivals.
The court also suggested that authorities collect substantial security deposits while granting permission for processions. The deposit could be forfeited if organisers violated noise or pollution rules.
The bench clarified that it was not opposed to festivals, but said religious sentiments must be balanced with public safety and environmental concerns. Citizens could not be forced to silently endure unregulated noise, it said.
The reported deaths require individual medical findings before any link to DJ noise or physical exertion can be established.
(With inputs from PTI)