📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mayabhai7868
Religion
Ashish Shelar urges Ganpati mandals to boost safety after Kalachowki electrocution
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 20 Sep 2026, 07:01 PM
👁 15
A fatal electrocution in Kalachowki during Ganeshotsav prompted Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar to call on Ganpati mandals to improve safety measures and crowd control for the 2026 celebrations.
An electrocution incident in the Kalachowki area of Mumbai, occurring amid Ganeshotsav festivities, resulted in a fatality. The tragedy highlighted gaps in electrical safety and crowd management at temporary pandal sites.
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar, who oversees the state's cultural affairs, publicly urged all Ganpati mandals to adopt stricter safety protocols ahead of the 2026 celebrations. He emphasized the need for regular electrical inspections, proper grounding of equipment, and clear evacuation routes.
Shelar also called for coordinated efforts between mandal organizers, municipal authorities, and emergency services to ensure rapid response in case of accidents. The minister said that safety must become a priority to protect devotees and volunteers alike.
Local officials have pledged to review existing guidelines and provide technical assistance to mandals. The incident is expected to shape safety directives for the upcoming festival season across Maharashtra.
Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar, who oversees the state's cultural affairs, publicly urged all Ganpati mandals to adopt stricter safety protocols ahead of the 2026 celebrations. He emphasized the need for regular electrical inspections, proper grounding of equipment, and clear evacuation routes.
Shelar also called for coordinated efforts between mandal organizers, municipal authorities, and emergency services to ensure rapid response in case of accidents. The minister said that safety must become a priority to protect devotees and volunteers alike.
Local officials have pledged to review existing guidelines and provide technical assistance to mandals. The incident is expected to shape safety directives for the upcoming festival season across Maharashtra.