Navi Mumbai: One infant among 11 electrocuted during Ganesha idol immersion

NAVI MUMBAI: Eleven persons, including a nine-month-old baby, were injured after receiving electric shocks at the idol immersion site at Koliwada, Panvel, during the final day of Ganeshotsav on Friday evening.
The Panvel city municipal corporation (PCMC) had made arrangements for the immersions at this site. An overhead electric wire connecting the lighting setup with the generator reportedly snapped, causing panic among the devotees as they received electric shocks due to this accident.
Seven of the victims have been admitted to the sub-district hospital Panvel while four including two serious persons were taken to the Lifeline Hospital in Panvel.
Following the incident, the Ganesh immersion was relocated to another spot nearby. Massive police force was deployed at the site to deescalate any law and order situation. Hundreds of people were coming in processions to immerse Ganesh idols here.
"The wire fell on an Ulwe resident Manas Kumbhar (17) who received major injuries. Others tried to save him but also got electrical shocks,” said A A Devale, assistant police inspector, Panvel city.
Those admitted to SDH-Panvel are infant Taniska Panvelkar (9 months old), Nihal Chonkar (5), Sarvesh Panvelkar (15), Dilip Panvelkar (65), Deepali Panvelkar (24), Ulwe resident Vedant Kumbhar (18), and Karanjade resident Darshana Shivshivkar (36).
Names of patients taken to Lifeline hospital are: Harshad Panvelkar (32), Rupali Panvelkar (35), Ritesh Panvelkar (38) and Ulwe resident Manas Kumbhar (17).
“The incident was reported around 8pm when an overhead wire hanging between bamboo poles snapped. People gathered there panicked and came in contact with the live wire receiving electrical shocks. It was also raining,” said Vitthal Dake, deputy municipal commissioner, PCMC.
“The wire may have snapped due to sparking or due to some other technical reason. Eleven persons received electrical shocks with two of them are severely injured. Those injured are from Panvel, Karanjade, Ulwe, Badlapur areas. Most of them are family members,” said Amar Patil, ward officer of Panvel, PCMC.
“Immediately after the incident, the immersion has been relocated to opposite side of the Koliwada site with massive police force deployment. Excavators were arranged,” said Bharat Jadhav, a local present at mishap site.
“The victims are being treated now,” said Dr Sachin Sankpal, medical superintendent, SDH-Panvel.