Maha celebrates Ganesh fest amidst H1N1, terror

Mumbai, Aug 23: The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival began in Maharashtra on Sunday, Aug 23 amidst of Swine Flu scare, rains and terror alerts.

Ganesh idols were installed at various public mandals and in lakhs of homes in Mumbai, with people going about in processions, even as it drizzled in several parts of the city.

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In the backdrop of terror alerts, Mumbai police has drawn up an elaborate security plan for the festival that includes setting up of watch towers and installing CCTVs at crucial points.

Security personnel have been deployed at strategic locations and 50 watch towers have been set up to monitor the crowd.

Police said, "Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads (BDDS) have been deployed in prominent Ganesh mandals and the organisers are asked to install CCTVs also."

"To check the spread of swine flu, safety masks are being distributed to security personnel," a police official said, adding that three lakh masks have been ordered.

OneIndia News