Overview
- The over 22-foot Ganpati idol fell during the Bhuleshwaracha Raja arrival procession late Saturday night near Jay Ambe Chowk, crushing attendees and breaking into pieces.
- Two men were declared brought dead at hospitals and five others were injured, including two girls aged five and seven, and victims have been identified by officials.
- Mumbai Fire Brigade officers said the idol appears to have slipped from its supporting steel frame because of probable faulty welding and unstable mounting.
- Multiple agencies including the BMC, Mumbai Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, traffic units and 108 ambulances responded immediately and the DB Marg police have opened an Accidental Death Report to probe the cause.
- The crash highlights growing safety risks from ever-larger mobile idols during Ganeshotsav and raises questions about adherence to BMC guidelines for construction, welding and transport that officials will now examine.