Tragic Dahi Handi Celebrations in Mumbai Result in Fatalities and Injuries

Fatal Incident During Dahi Handi Festivities

A tragic incident occurred during the dahi handi celebrations in Mumbai on Saturday, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old man and injuries to 95 others, as reported by local news sources.

The dahi handi event is a significant part of the Janmashtami festival, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. Participants typically form human pyramids to break clay pots filled with curd that are hung high above.

In Mankhurd, Jagmohan Shivkiran Chaudhari tragically fell while securing a dahi handi rope to a window grille on the first floor of his residence. He was rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi, where he was pronounced dead later that afternoon.

Among the 95 injured individuals, 19 remain hospitalized, with two in critical condition, according to data from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The remaining 76 have since been discharged.

In Thane, 22 individuals, including minors, sustained injuries during the celebrations. Yasin Tadvi, head of the Disaster Management Cell for the Thane Municipal Corporation, confirmed this information.

Some of the injured were children aged between five and ten years. Tadvi noted that organizers had been given explicit instructions prohibiting the participation of children under 14. However, despite these warnings, children were still seen forming pyramids.

Additionally, Rohan Mohan Valvi, a 14-year-old member of the Gaondevi Govinda Pathak in Andheri, collapsed while sitting in a tempo van during the festivities. Valvi, who had recently recovered from jaundice, was taken to two hospitals before being declared dead at Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar later that night.