Mumbai: As the city gears up to celebrate Dahi Handi on Saturday amid rains and festive enthusiasm, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state-run hospitals have gone on high alert to treat injured Govindas. Over 150 beds have been reserved, and emergency medical arrangements are in place to respond swiftly to any mishaps during the celebrations.
BMC has readied 125 beds across its four major civic hospitals—KEM, Nair, Sion, and Cooper—along with 16 suburban facilities. State-run JJ Hospital has set aside 10 ICU beds and 30 emergency ward beds, with the capacity to add more if required. Hospital deans have been instructed to maintain adequate stocks of essential medicines, injections, dressing materials, and plaster of Paris (POP).
Surgeons, orthopaedic specialists, and ophthalmologists have been placed on alert, as the festival often sees cases of fractures and eye injuries, some requiring surgery. All diagnostic equipment, including X-ray and sonography machines, has been checked to ensure they are fully operational. In addition, trauma and emergency teams are on standby at all major hospitals.
The heightened preparedness comes in the wake of past incidents during Dahi Handi, where the tradition of forming tall human pyramids to break a suspended earthen pot has resulted in numerous injuries and even fatalities.
Authorities have urged Govinda pathaks to exercise caution and follow safety measures to prevent accidents during the celebrations.
Past Injury Data
In 2019, around 51 Govindas were injured while breaking the handi, of which 27 suffered minor injuries.
In 2018, approximately 86 Govindas were injured, 37 of whom required hospitalisation. That year, 26-year-old Dharavi resident Kush Khandare died after a serious fall.
In 2022, over 200 Govindas were injured, and two deaths were reported.
In 2024, 245 Govindas were injured. This year, in 2025, during practice for Dahi Handi, 11-year-old Mahesh Jadhav from Dahisar tragically died.
