Four killed and three injured after electrocution at Ganesh Pandal in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Sampatiya Uikey inspects the site with officials and police personnel. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Four youths were killed and three injured after they were electrocuted while they were sleeping at a Ganpati pandal in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla district, police said on Saturday (September 26, 2026).

According to the police, the incident took place on Saturday (September 26, 2026) around 5 am in Hirapur village under Nainpur police station area when eight men were sleeping in a pandal (tent) after returning from immersing a Ganesha idol.

Mandla Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Raghuvanshi told The Hindu that according to the survivors, a music amplifier short-circuited and a live wire from it touched the metal grating of the small temple where the pandal was located, giving seven people electric shocks.

“There was a power outage around three in the morning and when the power came back on, there was a short circuit in the amplifier that caused the electric current. One of them was in the distance so he didn’t get the shock,” he said.

But initial reports of the incident claimed that a live wire from an electric pole had fallen onto the tent.

Mr. Raghuvanshi said the technical team of the power department was conducting an investigation into the matter and an amplifier was found to be the source of the short circuit.

The SP said any legal action would be taken based on the energy department’s report once its investigation is complete.

Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Nainpur, Manish Raj, said he identified the four deceased persons as Ravi Jharia (23), Jaina Bhanwre (19), Krishna Kumar Bhanwre (18) and Virendra Bhanwre (24).

Mr. Raj said that while the two injured are being treated at the Nainpur Government Hospital and are stable, one person has been referred to the Mandla District Hospital.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav expressed grief over the incident and announced a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each patient.

“The news of the death of four young men in an accident at Ganesh pandal in Hirapur village of Mandla district is extremely heartbreaking. My humble obeisance to the departed souls. In this hour of grief, we all stand with the bereaved families. The district administration has been directed to provide financial assistance of Rs 4-4 lakh to the bereaved families of the deceased.”

Published – 26 Sep 2026 19:06 IST