Telangana Director General of Police C. V. Anand said Ganesh idol immersion processions were proceeding peacefully across the state, with authorities working to complete the remaining immersions by Saturday morning.
Addressing the media at the DGP office in Hyderabad on Friday evening, Anand reviewed the arrangements, police deployment and progress of the immersion process.
According to the DGP, around 1.24 lakh Ganesh idols have been registered on the state’s Ganesh portal this year, compared with approximately 1.15 lakh registrations last year. The portal primarily covers idols installed in public places.
When idols installed in homes, apartments and other private locations are included, the total number of Ganesh idols across Telangana could be between 3.5 lakh and 4 lakh, the DGP said.
Around 88,000 Immersions Completed
The DGP said approximately 88,000 idols had been immersed across Telangana by Friday morning. The remaining immersions were expected to be completed by Saturday.
In Hyderabad, some processions started later on Friday afternoon due to the religious significance of the day. The large number of idols being brought to immersion points in several parts of the city also contributed to delays.
Authorities have been instructed to speed up the process while managing traffic congestion.
More Than 25,000 Police Personnel Deployed
More than 25,000 police personnel have been deployed in Hyderabad for Ganesh immersion arrangements over the past 10 days.
Additional personnel from TGSP, RAF, NDRF and OCTOPUS have also been deployed. Five companies from the DGP Reserve were kept available for security requirements.
Police have installed large numbers of CCTV cameras at major immersion locations, with monitoring being carried out through Command and Control Centres. Cranes and emergency services have also been positioned at key locations.
13 Deaths, 26 Injured
The DGP expressed concern over 13 deaths reported during the past 10 days in connection with incidents during the Ganesh celebrations.
He mentioned the death of Kothagudem SI Venkanna, who had travelled to Hyderabad for immersion duty, as well as the deaths of six people in Patancheru under the Cyberabad Commissionerate.
One person died in Khairatabad early Friday morning, while another death was reported in Nirmal following a heart attack. The DGP also referred to incidents in which high DJ sound levels were reportedly involved.
A total of 26 people were injured in various incidents, including 17 in Malkajgiri.
The DGP urged people to follow safety regulations and reduce noise levels during the celebrations.
Immersions Targeted for Completion by 10:30 AM Saturday
Authorities are working to complete the remaining immersions in Hyderabad by 10:30 am on Saturday, Anand said.
He added that immersion activities were nearly complete in Hyderabad and most districts, although some areas, including Nalgonda and Nirmal, could take additional time.
The police have divided the overall Ganesh festival arrangements into six phases, with the final phase continuing until devotees complete the immersion and safely return home.
DGP Highlights Community Participation
Anand said the peaceful conduct of the immersions demonstrated unity and brotherhood among people across Telangana.
He particularly referred to participation by members of the Muslim community in Ganesh celebrations in Bhainsa, describing it as an example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood.
The DGP appealed to devotees and organisers to cooperate with the police, move idols without unnecessary delays and follow traffic and safety instructions to help ensure a smooth conclusion to the immersion process.
