Mumbai’s Ganesh Festival Preparations Marred by Fatal Statue Collapse

The city’s elaborate Ganeshotsav celebrations, set to begin on September 14, were shaken by a deadly incident in Bhuleshwar. A 22‑foot Ganesh idol, part of the public mandal network, collapsed while being positioned, killing two workers and injuring five bystanders. Mumbai hosts roughly 10,600 public Ganesh mandals, but only about 2,500 have secured permission for the ten‑day festival. Authorities estimate that around 2.8 million Ganesh statues will be installed across Maharashtra this season.