Pune, 21st September 2026: Ganeshotsav celebrations have drawn lakhs of devotees to the city’s central parts, but crowd management has emerged as a major concern. A lack of coordination between Ganesh mandals and authorities, combined with road closures and limited pedestrian routes, has resulted in severe congestion and stampede-like situations at several locations.
Large crowds have been reported at Laxmi Road, Tulshibaug, Mandai, the Dagdusheth area, Shaniwar Wada and Budhwar Peth since the beginning of the festival.
Devotees from different parts of Maharashtra have been arriving in Pune to visit prominent Ganesh mandals and their elaborate displays. According to police, more than 15 lakh devotees have visited various Ganesh mandals in central Pune since September 14.
Police have closed several roads to manage traffic and pedestrian movement during the festival. However, citizens have complained that alternative routes and pedestrian movement were not planned adequately.
With major roads closed, large numbers of people have been diverted into narrower lanes. People moving in opposite directions have often converged at the same points, increasing pressure on already crowded areas.
The situation has been particularly difficult near popular mandals, where devotees stop to watch displays while others try to move ahead. This has disrupted pedestrian movement and created difficulties for women, senior citizens and children.
Several videos shared on social media over the weekend showed large crowds packed into narrow roads and people struggling to move near barricades. Citizens said some locations witnessed situations resembling stampedes.
Devotees have raised questions over whether the expected crowds were adequately considered while planning road closures, pedestrian routes and entry and exit arrangements.
Swati Deshmukh, a citizen, said, “we visit Pune to see the Ganpati celebrations every year, but the crowd and poor planning caused a lot of stress this time. We were stuck for around 45 minutes after connecting roads were suddenly closed. It was difficult to walk with children and, at one point, it felt difficult to breathe in the crowd. The safety of women and children was a major concern.”
Amit Joshi, another citizen, said, “we travelled by Metro to avoid traffic congestion, but there was hardly any space outside the station. Since the main roads were closed, huge crowds had gathered in the narrow lanes. Instead of enjoying the festival, we were more worried about getting home safely.”
Citizens have called for separate entry and exit routes, better pedestrian corridors and adequate personnel to regulate movement at major crowd points.
Police have deployed additional personnel across central Pune to manage the crowds and ensure the safety of devotees. Watchtowers have been installed at several locations, while CCTV cameras are being monitored from the main control room. AI-based cameras are also being used to estimate crowd numbers and monitor movement.
Plainclothes police personnel, Crime Branch officers and members of the Nirbhaya squad have been deployed to prevent mobile phone theft, harassment and other offences during the festival. Police have warned that anyone found harassing women, behaving improperly or attempting theft will face criminal action.
Authorities have urged devotees to take basic precautions while visiting crowded areas. Families have been advised to avoid taking very young children, senior citizens and seriously ill persons into extremely crowded locations. Parents should keep contact details with children in case they become separated. Devotees should also keep their mobile phones, wallets and valuables secure and follow police instructions.
If pushing or dangerous crowd movement begins, people should avoid moving against the flow and try to reach an open or less crowded area. Families should also decide on a meeting point in advance in case members get separated.
If someone falls in a crowded area, people nearby should create space and help the person move to safety. Any incident of mobile theft or harassment should be immediately reported to the police.
With central Pune continuing to attract large numbers of devotees, citizens have called for stronger coordination between the police, civic administration and Ganesh mandals to improve pedestrian movement and prevent further crowd-related incidents.