Maharashtra Dahi Handi festival safety and insurance

In August 2026, the Maharashtra state government approved a free insurance scheme for the Dahi Handi festival. The program, funded by the state’s Sports Development Fund, aimed to cover approximately 1.6 million participants, known as goavindas, who are registered through the Maharashtra State Dahi Handi Goavinda Association. The coverage included up to ₹10 lakh for death or total loss of limbs or sight, ₹5 lakh for partial loss, and up to ₹1 lakh for hospital expenses.

Following the celebrations, reports emerged of fatalities and injuries. In Mumbai, a seven-year-old boy, Rudra Kadam, died in Malad West after a brick column collapsed during an informal celebration at the Ekta Welfare Society. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) reported that at least 376 ‘Govindas’ were injured in Mumbai, with 90 individuals requiring hospital admission and 286 subsequently discharged.

In Pune, 45-year-old Salma Salauddin Pathan died in the Old Sangvi area when a portion of an iron structure used to support loudspeakers collapsed during dismantling. While the incident highlighted risks associated with festival equipment, the deceased’s family has declined to file a formal complaint.

These incidents have prompted authorities and civic bodies to emphasize the necessity of safety measures during traditional celebrations to prevent future accidents involving human pyramids and temporary structures.