Tight security in Hyderabad for Ganesh immersion today

Hyderabad, Sep 15: Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the peaceful conduct of Ganesh immersion procession here tomorrow with over 25,000 police personnel deployed for this purpose.

"The Ganesh immersion procession will start tomorrow from various places of Hyderabad and Secunderabad to Hussain Sagar lake and other water bodies in the city, wherein thousands of idols from the city as well as Medak, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts are expected to be immersed," Hyderabad Police Commissoner M Mahendar Reddy told reporters.

About 10 to 15 lakh people are expected to participate in the final procession, he said. In order to ensure that the entire programme is conducted in a peaceful manner, necessary arrangements have been made.

Over 25,000 police personnel drawn from Hyderabad Police and from nine districts of Telangana, besides neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and also from central para-military forces (8,722) have been deployed, the Hyderabad top cop said.

"Forces of all the Units of Hyderabad City Police have been pressed into service for the security and bandobust. Besides the 25,000 police personnel, 2,000 volunteers, including NCC/NSS cadets have offered services on the final immersion day," Reddy said.

Emergency response teams are being stationed at key locations in the route, he said, adding 310 hyper-sensitive and 605 sensitive places have been identified for which pickets have been posted. "Total 410 Mobile Parties are moving in the area for smooth conduct of the Ganesh Festival," he said.

Last year, 10,980 Ganesh idols were permitted to be installed in various public places, while this year the figure was 11,094. The city security wing of Hyderabad City Police will deploy 23 bomb disposal teams, 2 access control teams at important Ganesh pandals and temples.

They are equipped with DFMDs, HFMDs, deep search mine detectors, under carriage mirror, explosive detectors etc. The Anti-Sabotage Teams will be using the services of 23 sniffer dogs. "No traffic other than the idols' procession will be allowed to move on the main procession route between 0900 hrs on September 15 to 0800 hours on September 16. The traffic restrictions will be extended if the situation demands," Reddy added.

The event is being covered by more than 800 video cameras, some of which will be monitored on a real-time basis from the control room, he said adding, "All steps are being taken to ensure that rumours of any kind are nipped at the bud."

PTI