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22-Foot Ganesh Idol Collapses, Killing Two Devotees

8/23/2026

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

A 22-foot Ganesh idol collapsed on August 22, 2026 at 10 p.m., killing two devotees on Balaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana.
Police said loose nuts and bolts in the supporting frame caused the 3,000 kg idol to topple.
The deceased were identified as Sanket Nevshe, 33, and Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 30.
Fire brigade, police, BMC staff and ambulances responded, filing an accidental death report and opening an investigation.

History

Historical Context

Bal Gangadhar Tilak revived public Ganesh Chaturthi in 1893, turning large community idols—like Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja and Hyderabad’s 1954 Khairatabad Ganesh—into mass gatherings. Over the decades idols grew, with the 2018 tall idol requiring 35 tonnes of plaster-of-Paris. Repeated collapses in 2015 and 2026 have spurred Maharashtra to tighten safety inspections.

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Story summary

A 22-foot Ganesh idol collapsed on August 22, 2026 at 10 p.m., killing two devotees on Balaram Merchant Road near Kabutarkhana.
Police said loose nuts and bolts in the supporting frame caused the 3,000 kg idol to topple.
The deceased were identified as Sanket Nevshe, 33, and Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 30.
Fire brigade, police, BMC staff and ambulances responded, filing an accidental death report and opening an investigation.

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