Dahi handi celebrations in and around Mumbai: Two govindas die, 117 injured

As the number of Dahi handi organisers dropped this year, number of govindas getting injured was also at an all-time low.

Despite Bombay high court issuing a battery of guidelines, two govindas died during Dahi handi celebrations and 117 were injured. While Rohan Gopinath Kini, 21, died in Palghar after suffering from an epileptic fit while coming down from a two-tier pyramid, 30-year-old Jayesh Sainath Sarale was electrocuted after he touched a live wire near a mandal in Airoli.

A youth gets hurt while forming a pyramid in Dadar in Mumbai on Tuesday. (Kunal Patil/HT)

After Kini, a resident of Dhansar village and a TYBCom student, broke a handi around 6.30pm on Tuesday, revellers began pouring water on the group, Kini who was on a friend’s shoulder, suddenly fell and suffered head injuries. Police said he suffered an epileptic fit and registered an accidental death case. Kini’s father said he was his only son after his elder son drowned in the sea last year.

On the other hand, Sarale, a resident of Chunabhatti, had come to Airoli to participate in an event with other govindas at sector 16. He was waiting near a pole, which had a few hoardings and a halogen light tied to it. “There was a live wire in the pole and he touched it. He lost his consciousness immediately. He was rushed to a private hospital in Mulund, but the doctors declared him brought dead,” said a police officer from Rabale police station. The cops are trying to find out if it was a case of negligence.

As the number of Dahi handi organisers dropped this year, number of govindas getting injured was also at an all-time low. Dr Avinash Supe, director, medical education, BMC, said there were no serious cases this year. “The patients had minor injuries, fractures, contusions and three patients were kept under observation. None of the injuries were serious enough to need admission,” said Dr Supe.

Doctors from BMC’s peripheral hospitals said since 2014 — when SC put an age limit for participating in the events, cases of minor govindas sustaining injuries have dropped significantly.