A 45-year-old woman died after an iron angle from a Dahi Handi stage arch fell on her while the temporary structure was being dismantled in Pimpri-Chinchwad’s Juna Sangvi area on Friday night, police said. The incident occurred shortly after the local Dahi Handi programme concluded.
The deceased was identified as Salma Pathan. According to Sangvi police, she and her husband, Salauddin Pathan, had attended the Dahi Handi event organised by the Vighnaharta Dahi Handi Mitra Mandal at Lane Number Two in Juna Sangvi. The event reportedly concluded at around 10.15 p.m.
Salma Pathan was returning home when workers began removing the arch of the stage. An iron angle from the structure fell on her, causing serious injuries, police said. She was being taken to Aundh Hospital for treatment when she died.
Senior Sangvi police inspector Jitendra Koli provided information about the incident. Police said the death was initially registered as an accidental death and that further appropriate action would be taken after the inquiry.
The report said Pathan’s son was a member of the Dahi Handi mandal. Police stated that her husband, son and other relatives were not prepared to file a complaint in connection with the incident. The absence of a complaint does not conclude the police inquiry, with officials saying that the circumstances surrounding the death would be examined.
Police are expected to examine whether the stage had the necessary permission, who had been assigned the work of dismantling the arch and whether adequate safety precautions were followed during the operation. Inspector Koli said these aspects would be investigated and further action would follow based on the findings.
The incident occurred after the public event had ended, while the temporary structure was still being removed. The police inquiry will establish the sequence of events, the responsibility for dismantling the structure and whether safety procedures were followed. No further details about permissions, contractors or possible criminal charges were provided in the report.
The next step is the police investigation into the stage’s permission, the dismantling work and the precautions taken at the site. Authorities will determine further action after completing that inquiry.
