Thousands of idols of Vinayaka or Ganesh were immersed in Hussain Sagar and other lakes in and around Hyderabad as the ten-day festival came to an end on Sunday.
With more than 20,000 policemen deployed all around the city, specially on the route of the main procession from Balapur to the Hussain Sagar lake, the event passed off smoothly without any untoward incident. Hundreds of people, including women and children thronged the route and the banks of the picturesque lakes as the colourful idols of various sizes and shapes were immersed in the water with the help of more than a dozen cranes.
In a bit departure from the past, the gigantic 57-foot tall Ganesha of Khairatabad mandap was first to start its jrouney towards the lake. The biggest idol in the entire state was taken in procession at 7 am and by noon it was immersed in the lake. Its laddu weighing 508 kg was distributed among the devotees.
As the massive idol used to take a lot of time in transport and create traffic jam on the roads if taken out late, Hyderabad city police commissioner Anjani Kumar had requested the Pandal committee to start the procession early in the morning.
Before the main procession started its 20 kms long journey from Balapur in the vicinity of Hyderabad, its laddu was auctioned for Rs 16.16 lakhs at the pandal. The Laddu was fetched by Arya Vysya Sangham of the area. The money which was Rs one lakh more than last year, will be spent on the developmental works in Balapur. Starting from 1994 the auction price of the auspicious Laddu kept increasing every year.
As the procession moved through the sensitive areas of old city including Charminar-Mecca Masjid complex and Patthagatti, policemen and the personnel of CRPF and Rapid Action Force kept a close watch on the proceedings.
With more than 450 CCTV camercas installed to cover the entire route, the Commissioner and other officials watched its moment from the command and control room and issued directions to the force on the ground.
A large number of idols had gathered at the Moazzam Jahi Market junction before they moved towards the lake. The area around Hussain Sagar lake turned into a sea of humanity with massive crowds gathering to bid adieu to the Ganesha till next year.
Telangana DGP K Mahinder Reddy said that elaborate security arrangements were also made in other districts and towns across Telangana by deploying 65000 personnel.
Three persons had a narrow escape in Karimnagar when the crane carrying them along with an idol fell down during the immersion.
Minor tension prevailed in Jagatiyal town when some miscreants threw stones at the police after an argument.
An assistant sub inspector Nimma Naik who was deployed in Hyderabad on special duty died on heart attack last night.
Naik who hails from Kazipet was posted at Siddipeta and had come to Hyderabad for Ganesh procession arrangements.