Two killed, five injured as Ganesh idol falls during arrival ceremony in Mumbai

Mumbai: During the Bhuleshwarcha Raja procession in Mumbai's Bhuleshwar area on Saturday night, a Ganesh idol reportedly tipped over, resulting in two deaths and five injuries. A viral video shared by Mumbai TV captures the ensuing panic and chaos, with devotees rushing to rescue those caught beneath the fallen idol. The BMC Disaster Management Cell reported the incident occurring near Kabutarkhana at Jay Ambe Chowk on Balaram Merchant Road around 9:50 pm.

As the video shows, the scene rapidly deteriorated into chaos as people scrambled to aid those trapped and pull them to safety. Emergency responders were subsequently notified, and the injured were transported to local hospitals.

Among the casualties, Sanket Nevshe, 33, succumbed to his injuries at Reliance Hospital, while Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 30, passed away at GT Hospital. Three individuals were admitted to GT Hospital, while Vaibhav Ghenand, 38, and Pawan Chaurasiya, 25, were reported to be in stable condition. Three others, including five-year-old Lavanya Ganer, seven-year-old Divya Ganer, and 26-year-old Kunal Kashid, were also admitted to JJ Hospital and were described as stable.

Uninjured at Saifee Hospital, the total count of fatalities stands at two and the number of injured at five.

The incident unfolded during the Ganesh Aagman procession, a gathering where devotees congregate to welcome the Ganesh idols prior to the festival. The viral footage has vividly illustrated the extent of the panic at the scene, prompting authorities to investigate the cause of the idol's imbalance and the adequacy of safety measures in place.