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

A festive gathering in south Mumbai turned tragic on Saturday night when a 22-foot idol of Lord Ganesha fell during the arrival ceremony of ‘Bhuleshwaracha Raja’, killing two people and injuring five others, including two children.

The incident occurred between 10 pm and 10.30 pm as devotees had gathered for the arrival of the idol ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Soon after the accident, teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police reached the spot and began rescue operations.

According to preliminary information, the idol toppled after some nuts and bolts in its supporting frame reportedly came loose. The massive idol was estimated to weigh around 3,000 kg.

The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, where doctors declared two of them 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 were receiving treatment at two separate hospitals.

An elderly eyewitness said the incident happened suddenly after a part of the idol broke. He said his grandson had been sitting near the idol’s leg but managed to move away moments before it collapsed.

The eyewitness said Joshi, who lived in the same building, was trapped beneath the idol. His son and others reportedly struggled to pull him out before taking him to hospital, where he was declared dead.

The eyewitness also attributed the accident to damaged roads in the area, though the exact cause of the idol’s collapse remains to be established.

Another local resident, Rakesh Chauhan, said the area was filled with devotees celebrating the arrival of Lord Ganesha when the idol suddenly fell.

“We didn't realise what suddenly happened,” he said.

The incident comes just weeks ahead of Ganeshotsav, one of Mumbai and Maharashtra’s most widely celebrated festivals. The 11-day festivities are scheduled to begin on 14 September 2026.

During the festival, elaborate idols of Lord Ganesha are installed in homes and public pandals decorated with flowers, lights and traditional offerings, including modaks. Large public idols are often transported through crowded streets as devotees gather for their ceremonial arrival.

The accident has cast a shadow over preparations for the celebrations and raised concerns over the safety measures required while transporting and installing large idols in densely populated areas.

With IANS inputs