Devotees bid adieu to Lord Ganesh as ten-day festival ends

25,000 Mumbai police personnel deployed as part of the massive security cover

Amid chanting of 'Ganapati bappa morya', lakhs of devotees in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra bid adieu to Lord Ganesh as the ten-day festivity came to an end today.

As the immersion procession in the city began in the morning, devotees gathered at various points like Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu Beach and Shivaji Park to catch a last glimpse of the deity.

According to the Mumbai civic body, approximately two lakh Ganesh idols from sarvajanik (public) mandals and households would be immersed in the sea and artificial ponds.

Traffic on various routes has been diverted, while at some places roads have been closed for vehicular traffic.

The immersion procession of the famous Lalbaugcha Raja ganesh mandal in central Mumbai has started. However, due to a huge crowd along the way, the procession is moving very slowly.

Security has been tightened in the city as the police force is not taking any chances in the wake of terror alerts. 25,000 Mumbai police personnel along with the RPF, CRPF, RAF and BSF troopers have been deployed as part of the massive security cover. Bomb disposal squads will also be present at many important places while CCTVs have been installed at all the places where devotees will immerse idols in water bodies.

Last week, a number of devotees who had participated in the Ganesh immersion, had suffered injuries due to stingray bites at Girgaum Chowpatty. Following the incident, the BMC has deployed an ambulance at the Girgaum chowpatty. A cardiac van will also be posted there.

"We have made special arrangements at Girgaum Chowpatty in the wake of the sting-ray attacks as a precautionary measure," city mayor Sunil Prabhu said.

He has urged the citizens to take extra care of children at the time of immersion. "The devotees should also take note of the tide timings while immersing the idols so as to avoid any untoward incidents," he added.

According to a civic official, life guards, civil defence personnel and home guards have also been deployed at the immersion spots.