Two Dead and Five Injured After Bhuleshwar Ganesh Idol Topples in Mumbai

Two people were killed and five others sustained injuries after the massive Ganesh idol of Bhuleshwar Cha Raja toppled onto devotees during an arrival procession near Kabutarkhana at Jay Ambe Chowk on Balaram Merchant Road in Bhuleshwar late Saturday night.

The incident took place around 9:50 pm as the procession moved through the area. According to hospital authorities, Sanket Nevshe, 33, was declared brought dead at Reliance Hospital, and Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 30, was declared brought dead at GT Hospital.

Five other devotees, including two children aged five and seven and three adults, suffered injuries and were admitted to GT and JJ hospitals. Medical officials reported that all five injured individuals were in stable condition.

Eyewitnesses stated that the idol had arrived from Thakurdwar and was approximately 200 metres away when devotees were asked to clear a path. As loud drums and music played and devotees danced along the route, the structure suddenly lost balance and collapsed.

A local resident present at the scene said that devotees immediately rushed toward the fallen idol within minutes to pull out those trapped underneath, while ambulances were dispatched to the site.

Another witness stated that large potholes on the road near Thakurdwar may have complicated the movement of the heavy idol. He recounted that the idol's arm broke first before the entire structure came crashing down. A young child seated near the idol's feet managed to jump clear moments before the collapse.

The witness added that his son pulled Joshi, a resident of a nearby building who was trapped underneath the structure, and rushed him to the hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.

Witnesses noted that the incident unfolded within seconds, leaving the crowd with no time to react before the structure fell.