Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 5: With the city set to witness Dahi Handi celebrations on Saturday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has directed all its healthcare facilities across Mumbai to remain on standby.
According to a BMC spokesperson, Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Prajakta Verma Lavangare has directed all municipal healthcare facilities, including major and peripheral hospitals, to reserve beds for Govindas and provide free treatment to them.
The arrangements have been made as part of the annual preparations for the widely celebrated festival, during which groups of Govindas form human pyramids to break suspended pots.
Public representatives from prominent areas where Dahi Handi celebrations attract large crowds have also stressed the need for adequate safety and emergency arrangements.
Yashwant Killedar, municipal councillor for ward 192 in G North, Dadar, said he has been observing Dadar’s Dahi Handi celebrations for more than five decades and that thousands of people attend the event.
He said the crowd and risks associated with the festival have reduced over the years, with mandals now required to use safety equipment such as pulleys and safety jackets for Govindas. Those failing to follow safety regulations can face police action, he said, adding that hospitals now receive fewer mishap cases than in the past.
Vishakha Raut, municipal councillor for ward 191 in G North, Dadar, said the festival is inseparable from the public and that the BMC must make arrangements keeping possible mishaps in mind.
At the same time, she stressed that the public must also remain alert and exercise caution, as emergency arrangements could prove insufficient if a major mishap occurs.
Tulip Miranda, municipal councillor for ward 90 in H East, Santacruz East, said most Dahi Handi arrangements this year are concentrated on the main lanes of Bandra.
She said appropriate emergency arrangements should be put in place as every year, particularly as roads are expected to become crowded during the celebrations.