Kakinada, September 19, 2013: The Ganesh idol immersion programme began at Upputeru near Jagannadhapuram Bridge here on Wednesday. The Nagara Ganesh Utsava Samithi is expecting that over 250 idols from the pandals arranged in various parts of the city would be immersed during the programme and made arrangements accordingly.

Cranes were arranged at the immersion point at Upputeru where heavy security was arranged by the police.

Traffic diversions were implemented from the afternoon to pave way for the vehicles carrying the idols. Committees arranged auction of the ‘laddu’.

Community lunch was arranged at various pandals.

The immersion is expected to continue throughout the night and elaborate arrangements were made for the peaceful completion of the event.

Besides arranging floodlights, the officials also posted swimmers at Upputeru for the emergency help.

Representatives of the Samithi were coordinating with the pandal organizers and monitoring the overall arrangements.

As it was the 25th year of the formation of the Samithi, a souvenir would be printed with the photographs of various pandals. It would be released during the Ugadi celebrations in 2014.

A22-year-old man was washed away in the Samalkot canal during the Ganesh idol immersion programme held on Wednesday.

According to the police, Dittakavi Ramu of Samalkot ventured into the canal opposite Samalkot railway station for the idol immersion and was washed away. Swimmers could not trace him in the canal that was overflowing.

A case was registered and investigation was on.

Source: The Hindu, September 19, 2013