As Pune prepares to bid farewell to Lord Ganesha on Anant Chaturdashi, the city witnessed a surge in crowds over the weekend.
Thousands of devotees gathered to view the intricate and grand Ganesha decorations across the city’s famous mandals, breaking previous crowd records.
The massive influx of people created significant challenges for the Pune police, who struggled to control the situation for two consecutive days.
The five most honored Ganesha mandals, namely Kasba Ganpati, Tambdi Jogeshwari, Guruji Talim, Tulshibaug, and Kesariwada, drew particularly large crowds.
Other renowned mandals, such as Dagdusheth Halwai, Bhau Rangari, Akhil Mandai, and Babu Genu, located in the bustling Peth areas, also attracted thousands of devotees.
The combination of dense crowds and long-standing displays, especially live tableaus that lasted at least 15 minutes, caused severe traffic and pedestrian congestion, making it difficult for the police to manage.
Vighnaharta Nyas, a trust involved in assisting with the management of the crowds, reported that many devotees experienced health issues due to the overwhelming conditions.
Incidents of fainting, dizziness, breathing difficulties, and lost children were common over the weekend. In response, Pune Police, in collaboration with Vighnaharta Nyas, set up emergency medical services near the Shrimati Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Datta Mandir Trust to provide immediate aid to those in need.
The emergency service has been operational, offering much-needed support to devotees in light of the overwhelming crowd situation. With the Anant Chaturdashi celebrations fast approaching, authorities are bracing for even larger crowds and are preparing additional measures to ensure the safety of the public during the Ganesh immersion processions.
