Maharashtra Dahi Handi celebrations result in two deaths and hundreds injured

Dahi Handi celebrations across Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai and Pune, resulted in multiple fatalities and hundreds of injuries during the Janmashtami festivities.

In Mumbai, at least 376 ‘Govindas’ were injured while forming human pyramids. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that 90 individuals were admitted to hospitals, while 286 were discharged. A seven-year-old boy, Rudra Kadam, died in the Malad West area after a brick column collapsed during an informal celebration at the Ekta Welfare Society.

In Pune, a 45-year-old woman, Salma Salauddin Pathan, died in the Old Sangvi area when a portion of an iron structure used to support loudspeakers collapsed during dismantling. The family of the deceased, whose son is an active member of the organizing mandal, has declined to file a formal complaint.

Authorities and civic bodies have emphasized the importance of safety measures during these traditional celebrations to prevent similar accidents in the future.