MUMBAI: The mood was sombre in Bhuleshwar on Saturday, the day after a 22-foot Ganpati idol, the Bhuleshwarcha Raja, collapsed during its arrival procession and killed two individuals and left five injured.
Hundreds gathered for the last rites of the victims at Chandanwari crematorium at Marine Lines. The accident had turned what was meant to be a festive welcome for Bappa into a day of grief. The cause of the idol collapse is yet to be ascertained. The other deceased, Sanket Nevase, was the son of the Bhuleshwar mandal’s former president Jagannath Nevase. After his father’s death, Sanket took over the mandal and was also the Shiv Sena deputy divisional head from Colaba. Residents described him as humble and helpful. His sister Snehal was too distraught to speak.
The Akhil Bhuleshwar Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandal president Sanket Nevase, 33, and a resident of the locality, Brijesh Hemant Joshi, 30, were struck by the falling idol and died on the spot.
“I have lost my brother,” is all she managed to say. The Bhuleshwar market remained shut on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the five persons injured by the idol collapse are: Vaibhav Ghenand, 38, Pawan Chaurasia, 25, Kunal Kashid, 26, and sisters Lavanya Gunnar, 5, and Divya Gunnar, 7. the other three have been discharged While Ghemand and Chaurasiya are still in hospital.
