A rehearsal turned tragic recently when a labourer couple lost their eldest son during a practice session for the upcoming Dahi Handi festival. The 11-year-old, a member of a mandal, reportedly fell during the formation of a human pyramid in Ketkipada, Dahisar, and succumbed to his injuries on the spot.

Police said the boy had climbed the top tier of the human pyramid, the sixth layer,  when he lost his balance and fell directly to the ground, hurting his head severely. He was rushed to a hospital in Borivli West, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Relatives alleged that smaller mandals often lack the funds for safety equipment such as helmets, harnesses, or crash mats, making accidents more likely. Typically, big mandals provide protective gear to Dahi Handi participants, not smaller ones.