Two dead, 5 injured as Ganesh Idol collapses at Mumbai procession

What was meant to be a moment of devotion turned fatal in south Mumbai on Saturday night, August 22, when a Ganesh idol collapsed during the arrival ceremony killing two devotees and injuring five others, including two young children, civic officials said.

The mishap unfolded around 10 pm on Balaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana at Jay Ambe Chowk in Bhuleshwar; a spot where crowds had gathered to welcome the idol in a ceremony termed 'Bhuleshwaracha Raja'. The ceremony is carried out with customary music, festivities and is marked as one of Maharashtra's most sacred and widely observed festivals.

According to a civic official, the injured were rushed to nearby hospitals immediately after the idol fell, but two among them could not be saved. The Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, traffic police, the 108 ambulance service, and civic ward staff were all mobilised to respond to the scene.

The deceased were identified as Sanket Nevshe (33) and Brijesh Hemant Joshi (30). The five injured are identified as Vaibhav Ghenand (38), Pawan Chaurasiya (25), Kunal Kashid (26), and two children, 5-year-old Lavanya Ganer and 7-year-old Divya Ganer – are reported to be in stable condition, civic officials said.

Ganeshotsav, the 10-day festival honouring the elephant-headed deity Lord Ganesha, draws massive public participation across Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra, with elaborate arrival processions bringing idols to pandals amid large, celebratory gatherings.