A wave of tragedy struck Maharashtra during the culmination of the Ganesh festival as several people lost their lives and others went missing in separate drowning incidents reported from multiple districts. According to the police, at least four individuals drowned and thirteen more were reported missing after they were swept away in rivers, wells, and other water bodies during idol immersion ceremonies across the state.
In Pune district’s Chakan area alone, four people were swept away in three separate incidents. Two men were carried away by the strong currents of the Bhama River at Waki Khurd, while another lost his life in Shell Pimpalgaon. A fourth person tragically slipped into a well at Birwadi in rural Pune. Authorities confirmed that while two bodies have been recovered so far, search operations are still underway to locate the other two victims.
The crisis was not limited to Pune. In the Nanded district, three persons were washed away in a river at Gadegaon. Fortunately, one was rescued, but the search continues for the other two. Nashik also reported a similar tragedy, with four people swept away and the body of one victim already recovered in Sinnar.
Jalgaon too witnessed distressing scenes, where three individuals went missing after being carried away by water during separate incidents. In Thane district, three people drowned during idol immersions, with rescuers managing to recover one body so far. Meanwhile, Amravati reported another case where a man was feared drowned during the ritual immersion.
Officials have pointed out that the incidents coincided with continuous rainfall across many parts of Maharashtra. The heavy downpour has caused rivers, lakes, and wells to swell beyond normal levels, making immersion sites particularly dangerous. With swollen water bodies posing life-threatening risks, state disaster response teams and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to aid in search and rescue operations across the affected districts.
The back-to-back incidents have cast a pall of grief over the state at a time meant for celebration and devotion. Families of the victims are left mourning while rescue workers continue to battle adverse conditions in hopes of finding those still missing. The series of drownings has also highlighted the urgent need for stricter safety protocols and enhanced vigilance during large-scale religious events, especially when adverse weather adds to the dangers.
