Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar has urged Ganpati mandals across Mumbai to strengthen electrical safety and crowd-management arrangements during Ganeshotsav 2026 after an electrocution incident near a pandal in Kalachowki killed two women and injured four others.
Shelar made the appeal after visiting KEM Hospital, where he met the families of eight-year-old Ragini Ghanshyam Yadav and 33-year-old Sujata. The two women died after suffering electric shocks near a temporary drinking water stall outside the Kalachowki Mahaganpati Utsav Mandal, according to a report by Mid-Day citing PTI.
The incident occurred at around 2.20 am near the entrance gate of the pandal at Digvijay Mill Chawl on Dattaram Lad Marg. Officials said a short circuit apparently occurred in the area as large numbers of devotees were present. The report did not provide details on the electrical equipment involved or identify the immediate cause of the suspected short circuit.
During his hospital visit, Shelar expressed condolences to the affected families and said the authorities had been instructed to provide necessary administrative assistance. He also directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai Police to make arrangements for transporting Sujata’s mortal remains to her husband’s native village.
Shelar said the police had registered an FIR in connection with the electrocution incident. He instructed the BMC and Mumbai Police to issue and enforce arrangements covering crowd movement, safety around pandals and other festival-related preparations. The minister also asked Ganpati mandals to strictly follow safety regulations and administrative guidelines.
The appeal places electrical installations and crowd control at the centre of preparations for Mumbai’s large public festival, where temporary structures, stalls and heavy visitor movement operate in close proximity. Shelar described Ganeshotsav as a festival of faith, enthusiasm and social harmony, but said the safety of citizens and devotees must remain the highest priority.
He also asked devotees to cooperate with safety measures implemented by the administration and Ganpati mandals. The FIR and the administrative directions issued to the BMC and Mumbai Police are the next official steps reported in connection with the incident.
