Ganesh fest: police report 20 deaths, mishaps, brawls in Maha

Mumbai: In different incidents, at least 20 people died during Ganesha idols immersion here as part of the Ganesh festival. Fourteen of them died out of drowning, PTI reported, citing the police's account on Saturday.

The 10-day festival started on August 31 has ended on Friday.

According to police, three people drowned at Sawangi in Wardha district and another drowned at Devli. Two died in a pond in the Yavatmal district while immersing an idol.

Two people drowned in Ahmednagar district in separate incidents at Supa and Belavandi. Two more died in Jalgaon district in northern Maharashtra, one each at Chalisgaon and Jamner, police said.

Further, one person each at Ghodegaon and Yavat in Pune district, in Dhule district, Lonikand in Satara district and Solapur city.

In Nagpur's Sakkardara area, four people died in a road accident during idol immersion. In Thane, a tree fell over a Ganesh pandal in the Kolbad area due to heavy rains, killing a 55-year-old woman while four others got injured. Though the woman was rushed to hospital, she was declared brought dead.

In Panvel, at least 11 persons, including a nine-month-old, got an electric shock during a procession. The injured include four children, police said.

Police also said that some incidents of law and order situations also broke out in certain parts of Maharashtra. In Ahmedanagar's Tophkhana, a fight between supporters of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray broke out.

A mayor's bungalow was stoned in Jalgaon, a clash broke out between two factions in Pune city, another over bursting firecrackers and finally, a fight between Ganesh Mandal volunteers and police.

In Mumbai, however, the festival went peaceful. "#GaneshUtsav2022 in Mumbai was conducted & celebrated peacefully, smoothly & enthusiastically. I thank all the Mumbaikars, Members of all the Ganesh Mandals & all the Lord Ganesha's devotees, who followed all instructions & cooperated with us, the MUMBAI POLICE!," the city police's Twitter handle tweeted.