Site of the tragedy
When the children attempted to break the handi around 3 pm, the brick column collapsed on Rudra, causing severe head injuries, according to BMC. Earlier reporting noted: The incident was reported around 3.01pm at Ekta Welfare Society in Chikuwadi, Malvani, where a group of children were celebrating Dahi Handi on their own. Earlier reporting noted: While the children were attempting to break the handi, the column gave way and fell on the boy, identified as Rudra Kadam, 7, causing a serious head injury.
They added that the brick column was only standing on a base end and, as a result, was not strong structurally. Police said due to the tugging of the rope, the column, which was about five to six feet tall, collapsed and crushed the child.
Malwani police said the structure had been demolished by BMC a year ago but the column had been spared as a common electric meter had been fitted to it. Kamlesh created a five-foot-tall dahi handi for the kids who were keen on having their own celebrations in a by-lane, according to the police. The other end was attached to a brick column of the demolished structure located nearby,” said a police officer.
The tragedy occurred when a group of children decided to celebrate their own mini Dahi Handi . The rope for the handi had been tied between a tree and a brick column of a demolished single-storey structure. He was rushed to Malvani General Hospital for treatment. “He strung up the handi on a rope and tied one end of it to a tree. An autopsy was carried out later the same day at the Borivali post-mortem centre. Malwani Police have recorded an accidental death entry and are probing further.
Earlier reporting noted: Ward staff and police were mobilised after the incident. Mumbai: A day of celebration turned into a nightmare for the Kadam family as they lost their seven-year-old son, Rudra, during Janmashtami festivities at Malad’s Chikoowadi on Saturday afternoon.