10 September,2026 01:17 PM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
Video grab of the fallen Ganesha idol covered in black plastic after the collapse on Tuesday
A speed breaker appears to have triggered the latest collapse of a large Ganesha idol in Kurla, with police saying it lost balance while passing the speed breaker and those holding the idol were unable to control its weight, resulting in the idol toppling.
The incident comes less than three weeks after a fatal idol collapse in Bhuleshwar that killed two people and injured five. While road conditions and failures in the supporting structures have emerged as possible factors in both incidents, the exact causes remain under investigation.
The incidents have prompted elected representatives and the Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti to call for formal safety checks for large idols before they are transported.
A 15-foot Ganesha idol being taken from a workshop in Vidyavihar to Om Shakti Mitra Mandal in Dharavi toppled near a speed breaker on LBS Road in Kurla on Tuesday. Two people accompanying the procession, Santosh Jaiswal, 28, and Rohit Jaiswal, 25, suffered minor injuries and were later discharged. A police official from Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station said the incident did not appear to constitute a criminal case at this stage.
The BMC had already directed ward-level road engineers to inspect Ganesh idol aagman and visarjan routes after Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar ordered a citywide inspection following the fatal Bhuleshwar incident. The exercise was meant to identify potholes, uneven stretches and potentially risky speed breakers.
Local representatives said the speed breaker near Sheetal Talao had not been removed because there are three schools in the vicinity and it is considered necessary for traffic calming. The corporator also said Tuesday's incident was unusual and that large idols had previously crossed the stretch without reported problems.
Brihanmumbai Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti chairman Naresh Dahibavkar said, "Authorities can prevent incidents like these if they develop a complete procedure. BMC can appoint experts to study all factors and develop regulations on idol-making materials, technical specifications, safe limits, idol height limits, etc. Subsequently, idols can be given fitness certificates after official inspections and approvals based on the SOPs. Transit can also be supervised. We would welcome such a move."
Ashraf Azmi, municipal councillor for 165-L Ward, said, "It is a very sad incident. The cause can be clear after a police investigation. I saw mandal members vomiting after they couldn't bear to see Bappa fall like that. This is a matter of faith, and the authorities should be extra careful. "The BMC can bring in experts to provide appropriate training to murtikars and stakeholders involved so that incidents like these can be prevented and Bappa's aagman and visarjan can be done safely."
A mid-day spot check on Wednesday found the speed breaker near Sheetal Talao to be uneven and in poor condition.
(Inputs by Aishwarya Iyer)
