Electric Pole Catches Fire During Parel Cha Maharaja Procession in Mumbai

An electric pole reportedly caught fire during the Parel Cha Maharaja aagman procession on Saturday in Mumbai, triggering panic among thousands of devotees gathered to welcome Lord Ganesha idols ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi.

The incident occurred as crowds packed the streets for the arrival of several iconic community pandal idols, including Parel Cha Maharaja and Andheri Cha Maharaja. As sparks flew and smoke began billowing from the pole, several people ran in different directions to escape the area.

A video circulating on social media showed the electrical sparking incident, capturing a person attempting to hit the pole to stop the sparks while other devotees quickly moved away from the spot.

The exact cause of the electrical fire remains unknown, and it was not immediately clear whether anyone sustained injuries. Official confirmation and further details regarding the incident are awaited.

The aagman celebrations drew massive gatherings across the city on Saturday, marking the start of major preparations for the upcoming festival. Prominent idols brought during the day included Parel Cha Raja, Fort Cha Laadka, Sakinaka Cha Maharaja, Chinchpokli Cha Chintamani, and Andheri Cha Maharaja, alongside roughly 25 to 30 other major community idols.

In response to the massive turnouts, the Mumbai Police intensified security arrangements across the Lalbaug-Parel belt and along key procession routes. Security around the Kalachowki signal area was reinforced starting Friday, with large deployments of police personnel and official vehicles.

Between 800 and 1,000 police personnel were stationed across the area to manage the crowds and secure the procession paths as devotees gathered to view and photograph the arriving idols.