Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Bhuleshwar Ganpati Idol Collapse Leaves Two Families Grieving
A very large Ganpati statue was being moved to a festival location in Bhuleshwar.
It suddenly fell onto people who were helping transport it and people nearby.
Two men, Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi, died.
Five others were hurt, including two children.
Joshi was the main earner for his family and had a young son.
Nevshe helped organise the local Ganeshotsav celebrations.
Police think a metal support may have broken because it was not welded properly, but they are still investigating.
Rescue workers and local residents took nearly two hours to free people from under the idol.
Officials have promised help for the victims’ families and ordered safety checks.
A 22-foot, nearly 2.5-tonne Plaster of Paris idol collapsed at Jay Ambe Chowk in Bhuleshwar on Saturday night.
The accident killed mandal president Sanket Nevshe and Ganeshotsav organiser Brijesh Hemant Joshi.
Five people, including children aged five and seven, suffered injuries and were reported stable.
Police suspect an iron rod and improper welding contributed to the collapse, while the investigation remains ongoing.
The Maharashtra government announced financial assistance and ordered inspections of idol-transport routes across Mumbai.
- Who
- Sanket Nevshe, Brijesh Hemant Joshi, five injured people, mandal workers and local residents were involved.
- What
- A 22-foot Ganpati idol collapsed, killing two people and injuring five others.
- When
- The collapse occurred around 9:51 p.m. on Saturday; Nevshe’s final rites took place on Sunday.
- Where
- The accident occurred at Jay Ambe Chowk in Bhuleshwar, Mumbai, while the idol was being moved from a Byculla workshop to a nearby pandal.
- Why
- Police suspect an iron rod attached to the idol collapsed because of improper welding; the precise cause and responsibility are under investigation.
Reported Safety Concerns
Official Investigation
Possible cause of collapse
Reported Safety Concerns
Mandal workers reportedly noticed that the idol was loose or unstable after collecting it from the Byculla workshop, while police suspect an iron rod failed because of improper welding.
Official Investigation
Minister Ashish Shelar said fault and the exact cause should be determined through the police inquiry, rather than being decided before the investigation is complete.
Emergency response
Reported Safety Concerns
Joshi’s brother said it took one to two hours to remove him and suggested he might have survived if help had arrived sooner; a neighbour said the narrow road delayed the ambulance.
Official Investigation
The reports state that locals eventually cut through the idol to rescue those trapped, but they do not establish whether a faster response would have changed the outcome.
Preventing similar accidents
Reported Safety Concerns
The incident raised concerns about the idol’s welding, trolley, iron components and transport arrangements.
Official Investigation
The government directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to inspect idol-transport routes within 24 hours and called for closer coordination among mandals, civic authorities and police.
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 5, including children aged five and seven
- Idol
- 22 feet tall, nearly two-and-a-half tonnes, and made of Plaster of Paris
- Victims
- Sanket Nevshe and Brijesh Hemant Joshi
- Rescue
- Residents said the victims remained trapped for nearly two hours, and locals cut through the idol to free them
- Investigation
- Lokmanya Tilak Marg police registered an Accidental Death Report
- Government assistance
- Rs 5 lakh each for the two deceased families and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured
- Festival schedule
- Ganeshotsav celebrations were scheduled from September 14 to 25
