Mumbai: A govinda’ climbs a rope during Dahi Handi ceremony on the occasion of Janmashtami festival, during rain, at Colaba market, in Mumbai. (PTI Photo)
MUMBAI: Heavy rain Saturday failed to dampen Mumbai’s Gokulashtami spirit, with dahi handi celebrations held. However, the festivities saw the death of a 39-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy, though not during pyramid formations. At least 95 Govindas were injured in the city. The boy collapsed while seated in a tempo, and the man died after slipping and injuring himself while tying a rope to secure a handi to the balcony grille at a friend’s house. According to data from civic & govt hospitals till 9pm, Thane reported 17 injuries, while six were hurt in Navi Mumbai, and five from Kalyan-Ulhasnagar taking the number of injured across MMR to 123. Two of those injured, including a 9-year-old, were critical at the time of going to press. In a first, troupes achieved the 10-tier pyramid thrice. Kokannagar Govinda troupe from Jogeshwari became the first to form ten layers at minister Pratap Sarnaik’s event in Thane.
