There have been reports of accidents from several districts during Ganesh idol immersion in Maharashtra. Nine people drowned in incidents in Thane, Pune, Nanded, Nashik, Jalgaon, Washim, Palghar and Amravati, while 12 are still reported missing. According to officials, these incidents took place during the immersion procession on 6 and 7 September, which made the atmosphere in the entire state gloomy.
Many people lost their lives in Pune, Nanded and Nashik
Accidents took place at 3 different places in Pune itself. Two people were swept away in Bhima river (Waki Khurd), one in Shel Pimpalgaon and one person drowned after falling into a well in rural Birwadi area. Apart from this, a 45-year-old man also died in Khed. Of these, 3 bodies have been recovered.
In Gandgaon of Nanded, 3 people were swept away in the strong current of the river. One of them was rescued while the search for the other two is on. At the same time, 5 people were swept away in the water in Sinnar and Kalwan areas of Nashik. 2 bodies were recovered, the search for three is still going on.
Accidents also occurred in Thane, Jalgaon, Palghar and Washim
In Thane, 3 people were swept away in the strong current of the Bhargavi river while returning after idol immersion in Mundewadi village of Shahpur taluka. The deceased have been identified as Dutta Lote, Pratip Munde and Kuldeep Jakare.
Three people drowned at different places in Jalgaon district. In Palghar, 3 people who were floating in the bay at Narangi Jetty of Virar (West) were rescued by marine officials with the help of a boat. Two people drowned here in Washim, out of which the body of one was found. One person died due to drowning in Amravati district, his body was recovered by the disaster management team.
Accidents in Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh too
One person died and five others were injured due to electric shock during the idol immersion procession on Khairani Road in Sakinaka, Mumbai. The incident took place on Sunday morning, causing panic among the devotees.
In Gatkheda village of Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, two teenagers fell into a drain and drowned during Ganesh idol immersion on Saturday night. Police said that both the boys died on the spot.
At the same time, amid heavy rains in Maharashtra, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have been deployed so that immediate action can be taken on such incidents in future.