Floods Destroy Thousands of Ganesh Idols in Raigad's Johe and Tambadshet Villages
Sudden floodwaters triggered by days of torrential rain swept through the low-lying villages of Johe and Tambadshet in Pen taluka, Raigad district, on Tuesday, destroying thousands of clay Ganesh idols. The disaster hit local workshops barely a month before the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, leaving hundreds of artisans facing financial losses running into crores of rupees.
Incessant rainfall caused nearby creeks to overflow, sending water rushing into the workshops within minutes. Artisans reported having little warning before the water levels rose to nearly five to six feet in some areas, submerging and completely dissolving the delicate, eco-friendly clay idols.
Mahendra Ganesh Patil, 43, of Shivratna Kalakendra, lost approximately 500 finished idols that were ready for sale in Mumbai and Pune. He estimated his losses at a minimum of Rs 15 lakh, which includes the cost of raw materials, labour, and transportation. Patil noted that the workshop was dry in the morning, but was entirely submerged by 11:30 a.m.
Another local artisan, Prashant Bhagwan Patil, 36, of Shree Ganesh Arts, reported that nearly 400 of his idols were washed away, resulting in a loss of around Rs 10 lakh. Though his workshop has insurance linked to a bank loan, he expressed uncertainty about when the bank would complete its survey and disburse compensation.
Anant Sambhaji Mokan, 55, president of the Hamrapur Ganesh Murtikar Sanghatana, stated that nearly 80 percent of the Ganesh idols used during the festival are produced in these villages. He noted that about 50 families living in the low-lying areas suffered the worst damage, with individual losses ranging between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.
Ravindra Pandernath Rasal, 43, of Sahil Kalakendra, explained that artisans now face the difficult choice of either remaking the idols in the limited time left or refunding advances to customers. This devastation compounded existing financial strain caused by the conflict in West Asia, which had already disrupted international exports due to rising shipping costs and freight delays.
