Hyderabad, September 20, 2013: City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma on Thursday explained that incessant rains and with bad road conditions were to blame for the delay in completing the immersion of Ganesh idols in the Hussainsagar.

The ongoing Metro Rail works and arrival of more idols from the Cyberabad side also contributed to the delay, Mr. Sharma said.

Two idols fell down from vehicles at the Punjagutta crossroads and Golconda crossroads due to the bad road conditions. Organisers immediately took steps to shift them from the spot, he said at a press conference.

The colourful procession that commenced in Old City on Wednesday morning concluded on Thursday evening, bringing much needed relief for the city’s policemen.

Six-hour effort

The famous Khairatabad Ganesh idol was immersed at 1.55 p.m. on Thursday and it took almost six hours for its immersion on the NTR Ghat Road.

“We had to stop vehicles coming from the Secretariat for the smooth conduct of the immersion of the tallest idol,” said Mr. Sharma.

The Commissioner explained that as many as 25,000 idols were immersed in the Hussainsagar and 5,661 of them were huge ones. Arrangements were also made for the immersion at Miralam Tank, Rajanna Bhavi and Saroornagar Lakes.

“We thank the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi, peace committee members and the pandal organisers for their cooperation in conducting the festival in a peaceful atmosphere,” he said.

Casualties

Thirty-year-old Shiva, who got electrocuted while participating in the immersion procession in Secunderabad a few days ago and three others, including a woman, suffered injuries during the festivities.

Source: The Hindu, September 20, 2013