Mumbai Ganpati idol collapse kills 2, injures 5 during Bhuleshwaracha Raja procession
Synopsis
A 22-foot, 3,000-kg Ganesh idol crashed onto devotees during the Bhuleshwaracha Raja arrival ceremony in south Mumbai, killing two and injuring five — including two children. With Ganeshotsav still weeks away, the tragedy has put idol structural safety squarely in focus.
Key Takeaways
A 22-foot Ganesh idol collapsed on a crowd in south Mumbai on 23 August between 10:00 and 10:30 pm .
Two people — Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi — were killed.
Five others , including children aged 5 and 7 , were injured and are receiving hospital treatment.
Preliminary reports indicate the collapse was caused by loose nuts and bolts in the idol's frame.
The incident occurred during the arrival ceremony of Bhuleshwaracha Raja , ahead of the main Ganeshotsav starting 14 September .
BMC , Mumbai Police , and the fire brigade responded to the scene.
Two people were killed and five others — including two young children — were injured on the night of Saturday, 23 August after a 22-foot idol of Lord Ganesh toppled onto the crowd during the arrival ceremony of Bhuleshwaracha Raja in south Mumbai. The tragedy unfolded between 10:00 and 10:30 pm, just weeks before the formal start of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival season.
What Happened
The massive idol, weighing an estimated 3,000 kg, collapsed onto devotees who had gathered to witness the deity's arrival. Preliminary findings suggest the fall was caused by loose nuts and bolts in the idol's structural frame, according to initial reports. A fire brigade team, officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), and the Mumbai Police reached the site promptly and assisted in rescue operations.
Victims were rushed to nearby hospitals. Doctors declared two of them dead on arrival or shortly after. The two deceased have been identified as Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi.
The Injured
The five injured individuals are undergoing treatment at two separate hospitals. They have been identified as Vaibhav Ghenand (38), Pawan Chaurasia (25), Lavanya Ganer (5), Divya Ganer (7), and Kunal Kashid (26). The condition of the injured has not been officially confirmed as stable.
Eyewitness Accounts
An elderly eyewitness described the sequence of events: 'First, the hand of the idol broke, my grandson was sitting near its leg but he moved aside in time. It is being said that the idol weighed around 3000 kg.' The same witness added: '(Brijesh) Joshi, who lived in our building, was crushed under the idol. My son and others brought him out with great difficulty and took him to the hospital where he was declared dead.' The senior citizen also attributed part of the blame to the damaged condition of roads in the area.
Another local resident, Rakesh Chauhan, said the crowd had been celebrating joyfully moments before the collapse. 'We didn't realise what suddenly happened,' he said.
Context: Ganeshotsav in Mumbai
Ganeshotsav is among the most significant festivals in Maharashtra, drawing millions of devotees across Mumbai every year. The 11-day celebration is officially scheduled to begin on 14 September this year, with elaborately crafted idols installed in homes and public pandals across the city. Arrival ceremonies — where the idol is brought in with music and dancing — are a central part of the tradition. Mumbai's tallest Ganesh idol, the Mumbaicha Raja, stands at approximately 45 to 47 feet. This incident raises urgent questions about structural safety checks for large idols ahead of the main festival.
Point of View
At a well-known procession, weeks before the main festival even begins. Mumbai hosts hundreds of large idols each Ganeshotsav, many of them towering structures transported through congested streets. The question of mandatory pre-installation and pre-transport safety audits for idols above a certain height and weight has been raised after past incidents, yet no enforceable standard appears to have prevented this. With the BMC overseeing the festival's logistics, accountability for the inspection of idol frames — particularly those weighing thousands of kilograms — cannot remain informal. The deaths of Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi demand more than condolences; they demand a protocol.
NationPress
23 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened during the Bhuleshwaracha Raja procession in Mumbai?
A 22-foot Ganesh idol weighing approximately 3,000 kg collapsed onto devotees during the arrival ceremony of Bhuleshwaracha Raja in south Mumbai on the night of 23 August. Two people were killed and five others, including two children, were injured.
Who are the deceased in the Mumbai Ganesh idol collapse?
The two people who died have been identified as Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi. Both were declared dead at nearby hospitals after being crushed by the fallen idol.
What caused the Ganesh idol to fall?
Preliminary reports indicate that loose nuts and bolts in the idol's structural frame caused it to collapse. An eyewitness also cited damaged road conditions in the area as a contributing factor, though authorities have not issued an official cause.
Who are the injured in the south Mumbai idol accident?
The five injured are Vaibhav Ghenand (38), Pawan Chaurasia (25), Lavanya Ganer (5), Divya Ganer (7), and Kunal Kashid (26). They are being treated at two separate hospitals.
When does Ganeshotsav 2024 officially begin?
The 11-day Ganeshotsav celebration is scheduled to begin on 14 September this year. The incident has raised concerns about idol safety inspections ahead of the main festival.
