Mumbai Ganesh Visarjan 2025 Turns Fatal, A High-Tension Wire Falls On Devotees; 1 Dead, 5 Injured

What began as a joyous Ganpati Visarjan in Mumbai's Sakinaka on Saturday ended in tragedy when six devotees came in contact with a high-tension electricity line. The mishap claimed one life and left five others fighting for survival, casting a dark shadow over the city's grand farewell to Lord Ganesha.

The incident unfolded near SJ Studio on Khairani Road, where a group of devotees was escorting their idol for immersion. As the procession passed under a Tata Power high-voltage wire, six men were struck with a sudden, powerful jolt. Witnesses recalled the chaos-cries of panic, devotees collapsing to the ground, and frantic attempts to rescue those burned by the current.

One Dead, Five Injured

Among the victims, Binu Shivkumar (known affectionately as Vinu) lost his life on the spot. The others sustained severe burn injuries and were rushed to hospitals.

The list of injured victims:

• Tushar Gupta (18)
• Dharamraj Gupta (44)
• Arush Gupta (12)
• Shambhu Kami (20)
• Karan Kanojia (14)

Four of them are being treated in the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU) of Paramount Hospital, while 14-year-old Karan was shifted to Seven Hills Hospital in critical condition. Doctors described their condition as "serious and under close watch."

Local mandals and families gathered in large numbers outside the hospitals, waiting anxiously for updates. Political leaders, including MNS's Mahendra Bhanushali, visited the spot to extend condolences, calling the tragedy a "devastating loss during a festival meant to unite people in joy."

A Citywide Farewell to Ganpati Bappa

Even as Sakinaka mourned, the rest of Mumbai continued its massive visarjan rituals. More than 18,000 idols of Lord Ganesha were immersed across natural and artificial water bodies. The celebrations were marked by heavy rains, traffic snarls, and even a bomb threat, yet the spirit of the festival remained undeterred.

At Lalbaug, thousands gathered for the immersion of the iconic Lalbaugcha Raja, showering the idol with flowers and marveling at a striking display featuring a model Rafale jet. Similar grandeur was seen in Tejukaya, Ganesh Gully, Chinchpokli, and other mandals, where processions filled the streets with music, dance, and chants of "Ganpati Bappa Morya."

Faith, Grief, and Resilience

According to the BMC, by 9 pm, 18,186 Ganpati idols, 1,058 mandal idols, and 258 Goddess idols had been immersed. Over 21,000 police personnel ensured safety at 67 locations, preventing any untoward incidents in the city's crowded immersion points.

But for the families in Sakinaka, the festival will forever be remembered differently. As most of Mumbai celebrated devotion and unity, they were left grappling with grief, praying as hard for their loved ones in hospital as for Ganesha's return next year.