Ganesh idol immersion Tamil Nadu operations involved more than 36,000 idols installed in public places across the state, with district administrations designating immersion sites and arranging police, fire and emergency medical support, according to a report by Dinamalar published on September 20.
The idols had been installed for public worship on Ganesh Chaturthi, observed on September 14, by Hindu organisations including the Hindu Munnani and by members of the public. After the worship period, the idols were taken in processions and immersed in water bodies approved by the respective district administrations.
The report said Chennai accounted for 1,562 idols, while Coimbatore had 2,230, Viluppuram 1,780, Tiruvallur 892, Chengalpattu 628 and Kancheepuram 252. More than 36,000 idols were installed and worshipped in public places across Tamil Nadu before being taken for immersion.
District administrations announced designated locations for the process, and safety arrangements were made at those sites. Fire and Rescue Services personnel and 108 ambulance services were deployed as emergency support, according to the report. Police personnel were also assigned along the routes used by the processions.
The processions included drums and other musical performances, along with firecrackers, as the idols were transported to the approved water bodies. The arrangements placed the district administrations in charge of coordinating the immersion locations and the emergency response around them, while the police managed security along the procession routes.
In Chennai, idols were immersed at several locations, including the sea off Pattinapakkam. Cranes were used to lower the idols into the water, the report said. Public-place idols and larger idols were transported together in some city areas, while household idols were also taken by individuals for immersion.
The event required coordination across several civic functions, including the movement of processions through urban areas, crowd security, emergency response and access to designated immersion points. The report did not provide details of the materials used in the idols, the number of police or emergency personnel deployed, or any post-immersion assessment of the water bodies.
According to the report, some people also transported idols privately and immersed them in water bodies. The district administrations’ designated locations and safety arrangements remained the stated framework for the state-wide immersion exercise.
