By An electrocution incident at a Ganesh pandal in Mumbai’s Kalachowki area killed two people.
Four others were hospitalised.
A relative of one of the victims has alleged negligence by the pandal organisers.
The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of electrical safety at pandals.
It comes ahead of Mumbai’s Ganpati visarjan, when large crowds are expected across the city.
The Bombay High Court, on September 24, directed authorities to prohibit the use of firecrackers on public roads during festivals.
The court’s order also called for action to be taken against noise pollution during festival celebrations.
Mumbai Police announced a 15-day restriction on the gathering of five or more people in certain areas, effective September 25.
The restriction is aimed at maintaining law and order during the festival period.
Around 23,000 police personnel are being deployed for the Ganpati immersion.
AI-powered cameras will also be used for security and crowd monitoring during the immersion.
Ganpati visarjan, the immersion of Ganesh idols, is one of Mumbai’s largest annual public events, drawing large crowds to the city’s beaches and water bodies.
Authorities in Mumbai typically ramp up safety measures, including traffic diversions and medical arrangements, in the days around the immersion.
Electrical safety at temporary pandal structures has been a recurring concern flagged by civic authorities in past years.
The Kalachowki area is located in central Mumbai.
Ganpati visarjan processions in Mumbai typically involve thousands of idols being carried to immersion points across the city over several days.
Traffic diversions and additional bandobast arrangements are common in Mumbai during the immersion period each year.
Civic body inspections of pandal structures, including electrical wiring, are typically required before permissions are granted for public pandals.
The Ganesh festival is one of the most widely celebrated public festivals in Maharashtra, drawing participation from across the state.
Emergency medical teams are usually stationed at major immersion points during the festival as a standard precaution.
Ganpati Visarjan procession (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
