Six people were injured after receiving electric shocks during a Dahihandi celebration near the Shiv Sena branch in Line Ali, Panvel, on Saturday, September 5, 2026. The injured were taken to Panvel Sub-District Hospital and other nearby hospitals, while Panvel City Police began the process of registering a case against the event organisers.
The incident occurred while water was being sprayed on young people participating in the celebration. According to information reported by Loksatta, the participants came into contact with electricity believed to have been passing through overhead wires. The exact cause of the incident is being investigated by the police and electricity department officials.
Power supply to the area was shut off within minutes of the incident, allowing rescue and assistance efforts to begin. Six people reportedly fell to the ground after receiving the shocks. Two of them recovered at the spot, while the remaining injured people were admitted to hospitals for treatment.
Residents and other participants transported the injured in two-wheelers and other available vehicles to the Panvel Sub-District Hospital and nearby medical facilities. The incident occurred during the traditional Navnath Dahihandi celebration, a festival event that has reportedly been held in Panvel for more than 200 years.
Panvel City Police senior inspector Bala Kumbhar told Loksatta that the process of registering a case against those responsible for organising the Dahihandi event had begun on Sunday. He confirmed that six people had suffered electric shocks and said that two had recovered at the scene, while others were taken to hospitals.
The Panvel Municipal Corporation’s disaster management department had no official record of the incident at the time of the report. As a result, the civic administration had not released an independently confirmed count of those affected. A video of the rescue efforts circulated on social media after the incident.
The episode has also drawn attention to longstanding concerns about overhead electricity wires in Panvel. Earlier, corporators from different political parties had reportedly raised concerns about the risks posed by old, British-era electricity lines in parts of the city. The question of shifting electricity lines underground remains unresolved, according to the report.
Police and electricity department officials are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the electric shocks. The case against the organisers and the findings of the investigation will determine the next official steps.
