In Mumbai, Dahi Handi celebrations turn tragic, 26-year-old 'Govinda' dies after epileptic attack

Sep 3 (AZINS) The Krishna Janmashtami celebrations turned tragic after a 26-year-old ‘Govinda’ participating in the Dahi Handi festival died due to epileptic attack on Monday.

Resident of Dharavi, the victim has been identified as Kush Khandare. He was taken to the Sion Hospital where he was declared brought dead on arrival.Dharavi police have registered a case of accidental death.

Kush’s brother Naresh, denied to comment but stated that he did not have a medical history.

“Kush was not feeling well and did not step down for the Ganpati Aagman on Sunday. This is all very shocking to us as it had never happened before. He had never had fits before. He was not playing Dahi Handi. He was just standing below watching. Someone had thrown water over him and it is not true that he was playing and he fell from the first tier,” said Dilip Narayankar, neighbour of the victim.

Another friend told DNA, “Kush had no injuries at all. He did not fall. He was standing nearby when he suffered a fit. He used to be an office boy but right now was unemployed. He was not part of any Pathak. This was a small Dahi Handi in his chawl for which he had gone down to watch. He was standing close to the Dahi Handi and had become drenched.”

Khandare’s primary postmortem reports stated that no external or internal injury on his body. Viscera samples have been sent for chemical analysis and histopathology.

“The death has been caused by personal medical issues of the deceased and related probe is being done by the police. We are investigating the case from all possible angles. Other than the medical issue, we are also investigating the case from leads obtained from the postmortem reports,” Suresh Patil, senior police inspector of Dharavi police station said.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, around 121 Govindas (young men and children who form human pyramids during Dahi Handi) were injured during the festival.