Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 26: A 68-year-old man died after reportedly falling unconscious near the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal in Mumbai on Thursday night, police said.

The deceased was identified as Vijay Anekar, a local resident of Lalbaug. According to Kalachowki police, Anekar was resting at a Hanuman temple located next to the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal when he suddenly felt unwell and collapsed.

People in the vicinity immediately rushed him to Global Hospital in Parel. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival. The exact cause of his death has not yet been established, and police are investigating the incident.

The death comes days after a 25-year-old man from Pune died after his health deteriorated while he was standing in the queue for darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja on September 17.

The deceased, identified as Jaideep Meghraj Nemade, had travelled from Pune to Mumbai to seek darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja. His condition reportedly deteriorated amid the heavy rush, following which he was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead.

The two deaths during the ongoing Ganesh festival have raised concerns over crowd management and emergency medical arrangements in the densely crowded Lalbaug area.

Lalbaugcha Raja attracts lakhs of devotees from across Maharashtra during the Ganesh festival. The incidents have renewed calls for adequate emergency medical facilities and prompt medical assistance at crowded religious venues, particularly during peak hours.