Two people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed and four others injured after an electric shock at a temporary drinking water and cold drink stall near the entrance of a Ganeshotsav mandal on Dattaram Lad Marg in Kalachowki early Sunday.
The incident was reported to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) at around 2.42am on September 20. The electricity supply was immediately switched off and the area was cordoned off as a precautionary measure.
Temporary electricity meter installed at site
According to the BMC, the incident occurred near the entrance gate of the Mahaganpati Utsav Mandal. The site was later inspected by Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) officials at Digvijay Mill Chawl, near pole number DLM-14.
Deep Dive
What happened during the electrocution incident at the Ganapati pandal in Mumbai?
Why was the temporary electrical installation near the Ganapati pandal deemed faulty?
How did the victims end up near the cold drink stall when the electrocution occurred?
A temporary electricity meter, numbered M217392, had been installed for Ganpati festival illumination and a cold drink stall. BEST officials found that the wiring and MCB connected to the meter had already been disconnected by a local electrician. A BEST fuseman was present during the inspection. The police are investigating the source of the electric current and the condition of the temporary electrical installation.
Six people taken to hospitals
Six people were affected in the incident and taken to nearby hospitals. Two were declared dead on arrival, while another victim was admitted in critical condition.
{{/usCountry}}Six people were affected in the incident and taken to nearby hospitals. Two were declared dead on arrival, while another victim was admitted in critical condition.
{{/usCountry}}At Masina Hospital, eight-year-old Raghini Ghanshyam Yadav was declared brought dead. Kismati Yadav, aunt of the girl, said the family was in the queue around 2 am when the incident occurred.
She said the family decided to leave because of the large crowd and was taking a side route home instead of going for darshan. Yadav said they stopped near a shop outside the mandap to let the crowd pass when the incident happened.
“There were lights installed there, near the mandap. They should have taken care of safety,” she said. “You are seating so many Ganpati idols, but there is no safety arrangement,” Yadav told PTI. “The child we have lost will not be brought back,” she added.
Kiran Akbar Naik and Tanvi Naresh Hande, both 19, were admitted in stable condition. Another 19-year-old victim, Sahil Sandip Tare, was also admitted and was reported to be stable.
At Global Hospital, 33-year-old Sujata was declared brought dead, while 12-year-old Ruhi Singh was admitted to the ICU in critical condition.
Man dies of heart attack near Lalbaugcha Raja pandal
In a separate incident, a 25-year-old man from Pune died after suffering a heart attack while sitting with friends near the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh pandal in central Mumbai. Jaydeep Meghraj Nemade felt sudden discomfort in his chest on Thursday while sitting outside a building next to the pandal, PTI reported.
Office-bearers of the Lalbaug Ganeshotsav Mandal rushed him in an ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed during treatment.
The Kalachowki police station has registered an accidental death report. The official said the deceased's family had not raised any complaints or suspicions about foul play.