Tragic accidents mar Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai and Pune; 2 killed, over 110 injured

Festive fervour was dampened by tragedy during the Dahi Handi celebrations on Saturday as two separate incidents claimed the lives of a seven-year-old boy in Mumbai and a 45-year-old woman in Pune's Pimpri-Chinchwad. ​

In a tragic incident in Mumbai's Malad West, a seven-year-old boy lost his life after a brick structure collapsed during the festivities. The incident occurred at the Ekta Welfare Society in Chikuwadi at Malvani. ​

According to reports, the event organisers had tied the safety and support ropes for the Dahi Handi to a nearby tree and a ground-floor brick column of a building under construction.

Under the tension during the attempts to break the Handi, the brick column suddenly gave way. ​The collapsing structure hit young Rudra Kadam (7), inflicting severe head injuries. He was immediately rushed to the Malvani General Hospital, but doctors declared him brought dead.

Local police and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) ward officials arrived at the spot shortly after receiving the news to investigate.

​In a separate incident in Old Sangvi, Pimpri-Chinchwad, a 45-year-old woman, identified as Salma Salauddin Pathan, died after an iron frame set up for the celebrations collapsed onto her.

The accident took place late at Saturday night following the conclusion of the event organised by the Vighnaharta Mandal. As workers were dismantling the iron arch and sound setup, a heavy metal section collapsed, striking Salma on the head. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival. ​

Salma had attended the event with her husband, Salauddin, to support their son, Rahim Pathan, who is a volunteer for the Vighnaharta Mandal.

Demonstrating extraordinary restraint, the grieving family declined to lodge a formal complaint against the organisers, saying that the youth involved were like family and they did not wish to jeopardise their futures. ​Despite the family's refusal to file a complaint, Senior Police Inspector Jitendra Koli of the Sangvi Police Station confirmed that a case of accidental death has been officially registered.

At least 118 Govindas sustained injuries across Mumbai during the Dahi Handi festivities on Saturday, according to official data released by state and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health authorities as of 6:30 p.m. Out of those injured while forming multi-layered human pyramids, 80 individuals are actively undergoing treatment at civic and government facilities, while 33 have been discharged following primary care. Five participants remain formally admitted due to severity of injuries.

Civic hospitals across the city, Eastern suburbs, and Western suburbs logged continuous admissions throughout the day.

In City Hospitals (CT): 83 injured were brought in of which 67 under treatment, 15 discharged and one admitted; in Eastern Suburbs (ES): 21 injured, seven under treatment, 10 discharged and four admitted; in Western Suburbs (WS): 14 injured, six under treatment, eight discharged.

Civic authorities confirmed that all major government hospitals—including KEM, Nair, Sion, and suburban facilities—remained on high alert with reserved beds and trauma teams deployed throughout the day.

While the majority of cases involved minor fractures, lacerations, and contusions resulting from falls, ongoing medical monitoring continues for patients admitted under observation.

In Thane, at least 10 Govindas were injured and admitted to hospitals (four at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital and six at the District Government Hospital) with fractures, back, neck, and head injuries.

Meanwhile, political leaders, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, had issued advisories to party officials and organisers urging strict adherence to safety protocols, avoiding controversial setups, and ensuring immediate assistance and care for any injured participants.

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