lakhs of Mumbaikars were in their element on Thursday as they joined most colourful Ganpati idol immersion processions to bid an emotional goodbye to the elephant-headed God after the 10-day-long festivities, amid loud but rhythmic drum beats and chants of “Ganpati bappa morya, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya” (Hail lord Ganesh, do come back early next year).
With the Island city and its suburbs having come under thick security blanket, the major Sarvajanik Ganesh idols — including Mumbai’s prestigious lalbaugcha Raja Ganapati idoli and “Mumbai Cha Raja” — made their way through their from lalgau in south central Mumbai and passed through Sane Guruji Marg, Byculla west, Nagpada, Suthar Galli, CP Tank, VP road, Opera House, before reaching the Girgaum Chowpatty in south Mumbai at around 9 pm.
Both the major Ganpathi idols, which had left lalbaug at around 11.30 am, took more than nine and a half hours before they reached the Arabian Sea waterfront of Girgaum Chowpatty, where the immersions of small and big Ganesh idols had begun earlier in the afternoon.
like every year, various State-Central Government, civic agencies, Ganpati Mandals and voluntary organisations including the city police, BMC, Navy and Coast Guard, had made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the immersion proceedings, which was slated to go on till the small hours of Tuesday.
In an effort to ensure against any untoward incident in the Ganapati immersion procession routes, the Mumbai police had set up CCTV cameras at strategic places
As many as 44,000-odd police personnel, 1o companies of State Reserve Police (SRP), two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (IRBP) personnel and 100 home guards were deployed along the procession routes and at the various immersion sites. As many as 7,000 BMC employees were present at various natural and artificial immersion venues.
Informed sources that as many as 12,000 huge idols installed by as many Sarvajanik Mandals and at least 2,20,000 domestic idols were immersed at 69 natural and 31 artificial immersion spots this year
like every year, there was a huge turnout of people at various other immersion sites across the city, including Dadar Chowpatty, Juhu Chowpatty, Marve beach, Madh Island, Powai lake, Madh Island, Manori Beach, Gorai beach,Mahim beach, Aarey lake, the Mithi River, its branches and various artificial lakes.
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) had made elaborate arrangements as part of its “Operation Utsav” for’ for providing seaward security and safety cover to the people Mumbai during Ganesh immersion “We had deployed on helicopter, on hovercraft, a fast patrol vessel and interceptor boat for carrying out random patrols during the immersion day. We are being extra vigilant and provide surveillance against seaward threats and assisting civil authorities during Ganpati Visarjan,” ICG spokesperson Commandant Sujeet Dwivedi said.
On their part, the Mumbai police had set up as many 58 control rooms set up at major waterfronts, including Girgaum and Dadar chowpatties to keep a close watch of the proceedings. The BMC had kept in readiness at least 600 life guards and 81 motor boats to ensure against any mishap during the immersion proceedings.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis Fadnavis carried en eco-friendly Ganpati idol installed at his official residence “Varsha”at Malbar Hills and immersed it in an artificial lake created near the Mayor’s bungalow at Shivaji Park in north-central Mumbai.
Though drowning cases are a common feature on the immersion day every year, the BMC’s disaster control room late on Thursday night that no mishaps had been reported from any part of the city.
Meanwhile, the city traffic police had closed several major roads across the city for traffic, to ensure smooth passage of Ganpati processions through their designated routes.