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

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The 10-day Ganeshotsav, which begins on September 14 this year, is one of the biggest and most widely celebrated annual festivals in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. | Photo Credit: AP

Two persons were killed and five others, including two children, suffered injuries after a huge Ganesh idol of 'Bhuleshwaracha Raja' fell during its arrival ceremony in south Mumbai, civic officials said.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m. on Saturday (August 22, 2026) on Balaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana at Jay Ambe Chowk in Bhuleshwar, they said.

The idol fell while being taken to Bhuleshwar. Several injured persons were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals, where two of them succumbed, a civic official said on Saturday night.

Fire brigade personnel, police, ambulance service and civic ward staff were mobilised following the incident.

The deceased have been identified as Sanket Nevshe (33) and Brijesh Hemant Joshi (30), the official said.

The five injured persons - Vaibhav Ghenand (38), Pawan Chaurasiya (25), Lavanya Ganer (5), Divya Ganer (7) and Kunal Kashid (26) - were undergoing treatment and reported to be in stable condition, the civic officials said.

The 10-day Ganeshotsav, which begins on September 14 this year, is one of the biggest and most widely celebrated annual festivals in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. During the festival, the idols of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu deity, are installed and worshipped in pandals and homes.

Every year, elaborate arrival processions are organised in Mumbai, with devotees bringing idols to various pandals amid music, celebrations and large gatherings.

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