Bhuleshwar Cha Raja Ganpati Idol Collapse: Welding Failure Suspected, Eyewitnesses Blame Uneven Road

Mumbai: Tragedy struck a Ganpati idol procession in South Mumbai’s Bhuleshwar area late Saturday night when a portion of a 22-foot Plaster of Paris (PoP) idol collapsed, killing two people and injuring five others, including two girls. The idol was being transported from a Byculla workshop when the structure suddenly gave way, crashing onto devotees and others accompanying the arrival procession of "Bhuleshwarcha Raja."

The incident occurred around 10 pm on Balaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana, Jai Ambe Chowk, as a large crowd gathered for the arrival procession amid loud dhol-tasha beats. The 22-foot-tall idol, weighing nearly two tonnes, suddenly collapsed. A portion of the structure fell directly on one devotee’s head and struck another on the shoulder, while other people were injured after the heavy structure crashed onto them. The sudden collapse turned a festive gathering into a scene of chaos, as devotees scrambled to move away from the falling structure and help those trapped or injured.

The tragedy claimed two lives and left five others injured. All seven victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, including Reliance, GT and JJ Hospital, following the collapse. The deceased have been identified as Sanket Nevshe, 33, president of the Akhil Bhuleshwar Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal Trust, which managed Bhuleshwar Cha Raja, and Brijesh Joshi, 30. Both were rushed to hospital but were declared dead during treatment. The other five injured victims — Vaibhav Ghenand, 38; Pawan Chaurasiya, 25; Kunal Kashid, 26; Lavanya Ganer, 5; and Divya Ganer, 7 — remain under treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.

Nevshe and Joshi were cremated on Sunday at the Chandanwadi crematorium in the presence of their family members, friends, local residents and political party workers. However, the tragedy has cast a pall over Mumbai’s Ganeshotsav preparations, dampening the festive spirit as the neighbourhood grapples with the heartbreaking loss of two lives even before the celebrations have begun. 

Following the tragic incident, the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BSGSs) an umbrella organisation urged all Ganesh mandals whose arrival ceremonies are pending to keep the proceedings solemn, without bands, music in memory of the workers who lost their lives. Naresh Dahibavkar, president of BSGSS said, "The Samiti will immediately review and strengthen safety arrangements for upcoming arrival and immersion processions." 

Inspection of procession route.......

Following the tragic incident, the BMC will inspect the condition of routes used for Ganesh idol arrivals across Mumbai, with a focus on road repairs and safety measures. State Cultural Affairs Minister and Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Adv. Ashish Shelar said, "Discussions had been held with the BMC Commissioner, with instructions issued to take immediate action within 24 hours." He added that all concerned agencies had been directed to ensure necessary safety measures and warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found responsible for administrative lapses.

Inquiry into the Incident....

Shelar said the police are investigating the incident and that all aspects of the tragedy will emerge through the inquiry. "Once the investigation is completed, the exact cause of the accident and responsibility for any lapses will be determined," said Shelar. He stressed that preventing such incidents in the future will require close coordination among Ganesh mandals, the BMC and the police. 

Financial assistance: Shelar announced government financial assistance for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy, along with necessary support and financial aid for hospitals treating the injured. In addition, Shelar pledged Rs. 5 lakh each from his personal funds to the families of the deceased and Rs. 1 lakh each to the injured.

A 22-foot Ganpati idol of Bhuleshwarcha Raja collapsed during its arrival procession in Bhuleshwar on Saturday  night, killing two people and injuring five others. A preliminary investigation has suggested that the accident may have occurred after the welding supporting the idol at the rear broke. According to the Mumbai Fire Brigade, the support structure used to hold the idol had been welded at the back, and the welding reportedly gave way, causing the idol to topple towards the front. The information was conveyed to the Mumbai Police after firefighters inspected the spot.

Some locals had initially claimed that potholes on the road caused the idol to collapse. However, police officials said no major potholes were found during their inspection and are investigating the exact cause of the accident. The L.T. Marg police have so far registered two Accidental Death Reports (ADRs) and are conducting a detailed inquiry. Not yet FIR registered.However, eyewitnesses at the spot have given a different account, claiming that the uneven road may have caused the trolley carrying the idol to become unstable.

Mukesh Yadav, an eyewitness who recorded the incident on his mobile phone, said the accident occurred at around 9.30 pm and claimed that potholes on the road were responsible for the incident. Another eyewitness, Pawan Chaurasia, who runs a paan stall just a few metres from the accident site, said the road at the spot was uneven. According to him, the trolley carrying the idol became unstable while passing over the uneven surface and suddenly overturned. “The road is uneven at that spot. When the trolley passed over it, it started shaking and the accident happened suddenly,” Chaurasia said.

He added that an uneven road can cause an idol to move during a procession. He also said that several theories were being discussed after the incident, including claims that nuts and bolts or other parts of the structure had broken. “I am only saying what I saw. If the roads are level, the arrival procession can pass smoothly. Some roads are in good condition, while others are uneven,” he said.

Girgaon Cha Raja committee visits spot

Prakash Kanvaje, president of Girgaon Cha Raja, along with other office-bearers, visited the accident site on Sunday night. Kanvaje told The Free Press Journal that they paid tribute to the two people who lost their lives and prayed to Lord Ganesha for the speedy recovery of the five injured persons.

Meanwhile, several Ganpati idols in Parel, Lalbaug and Girgaon were scheduled to be brought to their respective pandals on Monday. However, following the Bhuleshwar tragedy, several Ganeshotsav mandals decided to cancel their arrival processions as a mark of respect and caution.

Among those who cancelled their arrival celebrations were the Currey Road Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal and the Akhil Chandanwadi Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, among others.

Police are examining the idol's support structure, the trolley and the condition of the road to establish the exact cause of the collapse.

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