2 dead, 44 injured during idol immersions in city

Mumbai: Two people died while 44 others were injured in separate incidents which took place during Ganesh immersion in the city on Sunday. At Charkop in Kandivali, the Ganesha idol toppled over and injured 17 during the visarjan procession, while five persons were saved from drowning at Mumbai’s Girgaon Chowpatty when their boat capsized in the Arabian Sea.

In Bhandup, however, Vignesh Mayekar (32) drowned in a pond during immersion, while Amit Yathal (25) died while dancing in the procession. He was rushed to the civic-run Rajawadi hospital but was declared brought dead.

According to civic officials, the 17 injured at Charkop are stable and have been kept under observation. “They were rushed to the privately-run Oscar hospital and are currently stable. At Girgaon Chowpatty, five people were rescued when their boat capsized and rushed to the civic-run Nair hospital.”

Police spokesperson Manjunath Shinge said, “As the Lalbaughcha Raja idol was being taken into the sea, scores of people were watching the proceedings from boats tightly packed together. Two of the boats brushed against each other, causing one to capsize and its occupants to fall into the sea.” Onlookers rescued those who could not swim. The Mumbai Fire Brigade officials rushed the victims to the shore.

Talking to The Asian Age, Nair hospital dean, Dr Ramesh Bharmal said, “Five of them were rushed to our hospital for treatment. They included a woman and a five-year-old kid. They were treated for breathlessness; two men were treated for injuries on the leg and neck. All five are currently out of danger.”