There is something about Disney that makes even the most familiar stories feel larger than life. Bringing that sense of wonder to this year’s Ganeshotsav, the Vivekanand Nagar Ganesh Utsav Sanskrutik Seva Trust is creating a Disneyland-themed pandal, where characters from across the Disney universe will come together in one elaborate setting. The scale of the installation is striking. Standing 75 feet tall and stretching 120 feet wide, the pandal has been taking shape for more than two months. Artists from Kolkata have been working on its design and execution. For the mandal, the theme is also part of a larger tradition of experimentation. According to artist Vaibhav Patil, the trust has consistently explored different themes for its Ganeshotsav celebrations, using the pandal as a space to create something new each year. The Disney universe offers plenty to work with — from beloved animated characters to fantastical settings — and the installation will feature several such familiar faces.

 

Patil said the mandal has deliberately kept some of the elements under wraps, so that visitors can discover them for themselves once tank component had corroded, resulting in chlorine gas leak,” Ashirwad said. He added that the inquiry had highlighted concerns regarding the manner in which hazardous chlorine cylinders were being stored at the facility. The leak, which occurred shortly after midnight on August 24, originated from a reserve 900-kg chlorine cylinder at the 4.5 MLD water treatment plant, triggering panic in nearby residential areas and leading to several residents being hospitalised. The Collector said the inquiry committee found that chlorine storage arrangements at the plant did not conform to the level of safety expected for a hazardous gas installation located close to populated areas. He noted that such cylinders should ideally be housed in underground facilities or self-contained enclosed rooms designed to minimise risk in the event of a leak. Instead, the storage arrangement at the Godhni plant left the system vulnerable. Soon after the incident, Ashirwad had ordered a detailed investigation under provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

 

The committee comprised representatives from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Public Health Engineering Department and Fire Department, Nagpur Rural Administration, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health. The panel examined equipment condition, maintenance records, storage practices, emergency response systems and actions taken during the incident. Ashirwad said the report would now be forwarded to the State Government as the MJP facility falls under its jurisdiction. “The issue of accountability will be addressed and action will be taken against those found responsible,” he said. The inquiry was also tasked with identifying technical, human and administrative shortcomings and recommending measures to prevent similar incidents. These include strengthening safety protocols, improving storage infrastructure, enhancing emergency preparedness and conducting regular inspections and training. they enter the pandal. In a festival where the anticipation often begins long before the first darshan, the decision leaves a little room for curiosity: what looks like Disneyland from the outside may still have a few surprises waiting within.