PUNE: A 45-year-old woman died on Friday night after iron racks — used to install lights and speakers — fell on her when a boy pulled the chain trussing them together following Dahi Handi celebrations in Old Sangvi.The deceased woman was identified as Salma Salauddin Pathan (45) of Old Sangvi. Sangvi police registered an accidental death report on Saturday morning after her family expressed unwillingness to file a complaint against anyone in connection with the incident..Senior inspector Jitendra Koli of Sangvi police said, “The accident occurred around 10.45pm during the Dahi Handi celebrations organised by Vighnaharta Dahi Handi Mandal in Old Sangvi.”According to the police, Salma and her husband, Salauddin, had gone to the mandal to watch the celebrations. Their son is the treasurer of the mandal. Senior police inspector Koli said, “Residents started returning to their homes after the event ended, while the mandal members began dismantling the iron racks used to put up lights and speakers. The mandal members had taken down the speakers immediately after the celebrations. The lights were also taken down. They even dismantled the stage.”The police said a boy pulled the chain holding the heavy iron racks together and they suddenly fell. The racks landed on Salma, leaving her with serious back injuries. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared her dead before the treatment could begin. “The woman’s family members told us that they do not want to lodge a complaint against anyone in this regard,” Koli said.TOI visited the accident site on Saturday afternoon, where a mandal member said, “The deceased woman’s family was involved in all aspects of the festival.”An area resident said, “A small mandal had organised the Dahi handi celebrations. It is not registered.”Senior inspector Koli said, “We had served a notice containing 41 conditions, including the stage should be strong, no Govinda should be below the age of 14 years, care should be taken to ensure that the traffic is not obstructed and noise pollution should be avoided, to the mandal.”
