Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 23: Two people were killed and five others injured after an over 22-foot-tall Ganpati idol fell during its arrival procession at Dr Atmaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana, Jay Ambe Chowk, in Bhuleshwar on Saturday night.

The incident occurred at around 10 pm when the idol of Bhuleshwar Cha Raja, being transported from Lalbaug to Bhuleshwar, allegedly became unbalanced and fell onto people accompanying the procession.

According to police, one of those killed was Sanket Nevshe, president of the Ganpati mandal. Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 38, was also killed in the incident.

The idol reportedly broke into three pieces following the fall. Fire officials said members of the mandal later placed the damaged idol on a dumper and took it for immersion.

A fire brigade official said the welding of the frame supporting the idol may not have been carried out properly, causing the idol to slip from the centre of the frame and fall.

“The welding of the frame holding the idol was probably not done properly. Therefore, the idol slipped out of the frame from the centre and fell,” the official said.

The official added that the procession was almost at the pandal when the incident occurred and that some of the injured may have been sitting on the trolley carrying the idol.

The injured were rushed to several hospitals for treatment. Three were taken to GT Hospital, two to JJ Hospital, and one each to HN Reliance Hospital and Saifee Hospital. One person each at Reliance and GT hospitals was declared dead.

The DB Marg police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and are conducting further inquiries into the circumstances that led to the incident.

The Ganpati mandal is celebrating its 63rd annual utsav this year. The idol had been commissioned from sculptor Aniket Desai.