MUMBAI: A 19-year-old died after being electrocuted at a Ganpati artificial immersion pond set up by the BMC near Shyam Nagar Lake in Jogeshwari (east) in the wee hours on Sunday, prompting questions over safety arrangements for devotees.
Rohit was the only son of his parents. “Why were proper safety precautions not taken at the immersion site? Who is responsible for Rohit’s death,” a relative asked. The incident has raised questions about safety protocols followed at artificial immersion ponds. As far as precautions are concerned, the police department takes over after the idol after it is handed over to them. An accidental death has been registered at the Meghwadi police station. Police and the civic administration are examining the circumstances leading to Rohit Rathod’s death.
With his mother already deceased, his sudden death at the age of 19 has dealt a blow to his father.
Shivaji Khairnar, president of the Shyam Nagarcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal, said, “I had alerted the BMC to a death in an artificial pond four years ago. In a meeting with the authorities, we had demanded that the contractor do his job properly,” he said. Naresh Dahibhavkar, president of the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti, said, “The civic administration should conduct a proper inquiry and take action against whoever is responsible. So how did such an incident happen?” he said.
“The boy was not immersing his family’s Ganpati but was a contractor’s worker. Prima facie, we have learnt that the pump used to draw out water was switched on.
Rupali Kadam, assistant municipal commissioner, K-North ward, said the BMC is conducting an inquiry. But we are still inquiring into the matter,” she said.
