At least 168 govindas were reported injured during Mumbai Dahi Handi celebrations by 9 pm on Saturday, according to information received from government and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation hospitals. Twenty-nine injured participants were admitted, 81 remained under treatment and 58 had been discharged.
The highest number of cases was reported from Mumbai’s central suburbs, where 106 govindas were injured. Eighteen were admitted, 52 remained under treatment and 36 had been discharged, according to the hospital figures.
Hospitals in the eastern suburbs reported 29 injured govindas, including six admissions. Eight people were under treatment and 15 had been discharged. In the western suburbs, 33 injuries were reported, with five admissions, 21 people under treatment and seven discharged.
KEM Hospital recorded the highest number of injured govindas among individual hospitals, with 33 cases. Six patients were admitted, 12 remained under treatment and 15 had been discharged. Rajawadi Hospital reported 20 injured participants, including six admissions, while Nair Hospital recorded 17 cases, with four admissions and 13 people still under treatment.
Potdar Hospital reported 16 injured govindas, all of whom had been discharged. Hinduja Hospital reported 14 cases, including two admissions and 12 people under treatment. BDBA Hospital recorded 13 injured participants, of whom two were admitted, four remained under treatment and seven had been discharged. Sion Hospital reported eight injuries, with four admissions and four people under treatment.
The figures increased during the day. Until 6 pm, the BMC had reported 118 injuries in Mumbai. At that stage, five people had been admitted, 80 had received preliminary treatment and 33 had been discharged. KEM had reported 29 cases, followed by Nair Hospital with 17 and Rajawadi Hospital with 13.
The celebrations also saw fatal incidents in Mumbai and Pune. In Malvani, seven-year-old Rudra Kadam died after a brick column collapsed on him at Ekta Welfare Society in Chikuwadi at around 3 pm. A group of children had reportedly been celebrating Dahi Handi, with one end of the rope tied to a tree and the other to a brick column supporting a ground-floor structure. The column collapsed as the children attempted to break the handi. Bystanders took the boy to Malvani General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
In Pune, Salma Salauddin Pathan, a resident of Old Sangavi in Pimpri-Chinchwad, died after a temporary iron structure supporting loudspeakers collapsed at a Dahi Handi event on Friday night. Police said workers were dismantling the structure after an event organised by Vighnaharta Mandal when a heavy portion fell on her. She suffered a serious head injury and was declared dead at a hospital. Police registered an accidental death report and are investigating the collapse.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde urged govindas at a Dahi Handi celebration in Thane to prioritise safety over the height of human pyramids. “Break the pot but protect life,” he said, according to the report, urging participants to ensure their teammates were not injured.
The police deployed additional personnel in sensitive areas across Mumbai during the festival. The BMC kept more than 100 beds ready at civic hospitals in Mumbai and its suburbs, while health officers and staff worked in three shifts. Hospitals were also directed to maintain stocks of medicines, injections and surgical material. Neighbouring Thane reported 12 injured govindas admitted to hospitals during the celebrations.
