Stage Set for Ganesh Immersion Today, Full Security in Place

The stage is set for the Ganesh immersion at the Hussain Sagar as also at some other large lakes around the city, on September 23.

The police and other departments have made elaborate arrangements for the event to pass off smoothly and for the convenience of the public who will be taking part in it or witnessing the colourful day-long celebration which might go on till early the next day.

The route map for the 18-kilometer main procession to reach the Hussain Sagar, starting at Balapur in the Old City, was finalized some days back, and the police have already started keeping a watchful eye on the entire route. Over 17,000 policemen have been deployed for the purpose, apart from 13 units of Greyhounds and two units of OCTOPUS. In all, about 40,000 police personnel and officials will be on duty in the Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda police commissionerates. All wings of the Hyderabad police - law and order, traffic, SB, transport, city security wing, armed reserve police, bomb disposal squads (16), dog squads (22), emergency response teams, Vajra vehicles and gas squads - will be part of the bandobust and security activities. Emergency response teams and quick reaction teams will also be stationed at different locations.

The main concentration of the security forces will be on the 18 km route and on the Ganesh idols joining the main procession from the side lanes. Senior police officials will be watching the immersion process through 450 cameras fixed en route the procession. The police have also intensified bandobust at 605 sensitive places, which will be monitored by 410 mobile parties. SHE teams and crime teams are also being deployed to prevent the harassment of women and to ensure their safety.

15 ambulances, two medical teams, 15 fire tenders, 81 watch towers and 82 mobile toilets have also been made available (cumulatively) at important junctions.

51 cranes have been deployed for the immersion of the idols - 23 will be at Tank Bund, 12 at NTR Marg, three each at Rajanna Bowli and Minister Road, and two each at Errakunta and Meer Alam Tank. Four cranes have been kept in reserve at NTR Marg. As many as 160 release hooks will be available, and will make the immersion of the idols easier.

The idols reaching Hussain Sagar after 2 am on the 24th will be diverted to a specially arranged holding area for the immersion.

The City Police have issued orders stating that wine shops and bars attached to restaurants (excluding bars in star hotels and registered clubs) will remain closed from 6 am on Sunday to 6 pm on Monday. Elaborate traffic restrictions were also imposed on the day.