Electric current was detected at a temporary drinking water and cold drink stall erected near the pandal entrance, officials said. Photo: X/@ANI
An eight-year-old girl and a woman died, and four others were injured, after suffering electrocution at a temporary drinking water stall near a Ganesh pandal in the Lalbaug area of Mumbai early on Sunday (September 20, 2026), officials said.
The incident apparently occurred after a short circuit near the entrance gate of the Mahaganpati Utsav Mandal in Digvijay Mill Chawl (row tenement) on Dattaram Lad Marg in Kalachowki at 2.20 a.m., when large crowds had gathered in the area during the continuing Ganesh festival, the officials said.
Electric current was detected at a temporary drinking water and cold drink stall erected near the pandal entrance, they said.
After the incident, firefighters immediately switched off the power supply at the spot, and the area was cordoned off as a precautionary measure.
Six people who suffered electrocution were taken to nearby hospitals, where two of them were declared dead.
Raghini Ghanshyam Yadav (8), was declared dead on arrival at Masina Hospital in Byculla. Meanwhile, three others — Kiran Akbar Naik, Tanvi Naresh Hande, and Sahil Sandip Tare, all 19, are undergoing treatment at the hospital, and their condition is stable, a civic official said.
Two others were taken to Global Hospital in Parel, where a woman, identified as Sujata (33), was declared dead on arrival. Ruhi Singh (12), is critically injured and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), the official said.
A site inspection conducted by officials of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking at the chawl indicated that a temporary electric meter had been installed to light the Ganesh festival celebrations and for the cold drink stall. Its wiring and miniature circuit breaker (MCB) were disconnected by a local electrician, the officials said.
Power supply at the site remained partially cut off. A BEST Fuseman and a Meter Inspector assisted in the investigation.
The Kalachowki police have begun a detailed investigation into the incident to ascertain the cause of the short circuit, the officials added.
Published – September 20, 2026 11:12 am IST
