Hyderabad, 25 September (H.S.): The immersion of Lord Ganesha idols marking the culmination of the Vinayaka Chaviti festivities began across Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana on Friday, with devotees thronging designated immersion points and elaborate security arrangements in place.

Devotees arrived at Hussainsagar and other water bodies in Hyderabad with idols placed on decorated vehicles. The immersion procession, which began on the third day of the festivities, has continued peacefully across the city and is reaching its culmination on Friday.

Around 30,000 police personnel have been deployed across Hyderabad for security, crowd management and traffic regulation, while more than 10,000 CCTV cameras are being used for surveillance, police said.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar inspected arrangements at Tank Bund and reviewed the security measures for the immersion procession. He said comprehensive arrangements had been made to ensure that the festivities and procession pass off smoothly.

Twenty-four advanced drones and nearly 100 high-rise cameras have also been deployed along major thoroughfares to monitor crowd density and facilitate automated counting of idols. Police personnel equipped with high-powered binoculars and wireless communication sets have been positioned on rooftops of elevated buildings along the procession routes.

The giant Ganesh idol installed at the Khairatabad pandal remained a major attraction during this year's festivities. A 69-foot-tall idol named 'Pancha Mukha Sankata Hara Maha Ganapati' was installed at the pandal, with devotees offering prayers for the removal of obstacles.

The immersion processions continued at various points across the city as devotees participated in the culmination of the festival.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar