A day after two persons were killed and five injured when a 22‑foot Ganesh idol of 'Bhuleshwaracha Raja' fell during its arrival ceremony in Mumbai, police on Sunday said a preliminary probe suggested the idol's welding support broke, causing it to collapse.
The deceased included the president of the 'Bhuleshwarcha Raja Ganesh Mandal', the police said, adding that they have registered a case of accidental death.
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Police said that the initial probe suggested that the welding support at the back of the idol gave way, leading to it falling on its front. The idol was on its way from Byculla to Bhuleshwar as part of the arrival procession when it collapsed, PTI reported.
The deceased have been identified as Sanket Nevshe (33) who was the president of the Bhuleshwaracha Raja Ganesh Mandal, and Brijesh Hemant Joshi (30). The five injured people - Vaibhav Ghenand (38), Pawan Chaurasiya (25), Lavanya Ganer (5), Divya Ganer (7) and Kunal Kashid (26) - were rushed to the hospital following the incident and are undergoing treatment and reported to be in stable condition, as per civic officials.
Fire brigade personnel, police, ambulance services and civic ward staff were subsequently mobilised at the site. PTI reported that the idol broke into pieces following the collapse Police and civic officials later immersed the damaged idol in the sea off Girgaon Chowpatty.
Mumbai Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) in connection with the incident, while further investigation is underway. An official stated that authorities were awaiting medical reports to establish the exact cause of the deaths, PTI reported.
The incident came ahead of Ganeshotsav, the 10 day festival during which idols of Lord Ganesh are installed in homes and public pandals across Mumbai and Maharashtra. Arrival ceremonies for large public idols often draw crowds, with music, processions and celebrations forming a part of the festivities.
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse, including the structural support that allegedly failed, PTI reported.
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