18 drowned, 3 dead on last day of festival

Mumbai: Eighteen cases of drowning were reported across the state during the immersion of Ganesh idols, with three deaths, each, reported in the Raigad, Jalna and Pune (rural) districts.

The officials said that the police in Satara and Bhandara reported two deaths, each, while cities like Pimpri-Chinchwad, Ahmednagar, Nanded and Buldhana saw one death, each.

In Mumbai, a fishing vessel escorting a Ganesh immersion capsized aro-und 10.40am on Monday and five people fell into the sea. They were identified as Kajal Meyer (31), Avani (5), Adnan Khan (15), Nilesh Bhoir (18), and Anita (16). People in other boats and fire brigade officers also deployed at Girgaum Chowpatty to rescued them. They were sent to Nair Hospital for first aid.

Another person drowned in a lake in the Kanju-rmarg area, the police said. Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu, Powai Lake and Dadar Chowpatty saw the presence of police personnel. The security apparatus was relaxed around noon after immersion of all the big idols was completed, the officials said.

A 50,000-strong force was out on the streets, along with aerial surveillance by “drones” for the Ganesh immersion.