Mumbai/Thane, 17 August (H.S.): Two individuals lost their lives, and 117 were injured during the Dahi Handi festival in Mumbai and Thane. Celebrated to honor Lord Krishna's birth, the festival was attended by celebrities like Govinda, Chunky Pandey, and Sunil Shetty, alongside political figures from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), reflecting ongoing political negotiations ahead of upcoming local elections in Maharashtra. The festivities involved forming human pyramids to break pots (dahi handis) suspended in the air.

Rohan Mohan Malvi, a member of the Gaondevi Govinda Pathak, fell unconscious while sitting in a tempo in Mumbai's Andheri area after not participating due to illness. He was declared dead upon arrival at Rajawadi Hospital. Earlier that day, 32-year-old Jagmohan Shivkiran Chaudhari fell from his home in Mankhurd while tying a dahi handi and was pronounced dead at Shatabdi Govandi Hospital.

As of 9 PM, 95 injuries were reported in Mumbai, with two seriously injured. Most injured, comprising 30 from the island city, 31 from eastern suburbs, and 34 from western areas, received treatment, with 19 hospitalized. In Thane, 22 individuals were injured while attempting to form human pyramids, with 17 requiring admission to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Hospital. Injuries included head trauma and shoulder dislocations, particularly affecting participants aged 5 to 10.

Large crowds gathered at mandals in Thane for the festivities, where actor Govinda performed at Tembi Naka, attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Political alliances were illustrated by the participation of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS leaders, who declared their partnership as unbreakable, akin to Fevicol ki jodi, at events organized by Raj Thackeray's party at Naupada in Thane, highlighting the intertwining of celebration and political aspirations during the festival.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar