Ganesh immersions continue at Hussain Sagar amid heavy crowds on Saturday

Ganesh idol immersions continued at Hussain Sagar for the second day on Saturday, with hundreds of idols awaiting immersion. More than 40 cranes were deployed, while heavy crowds and vehicular movement created challenges for sanitation teams along procession routes.

Hyderabad: Ganesh idol immersions continued for the second consecutive day at Hussain Sagar on Saturday, with devotees joining processions from across the twin cities.

By morning, hundreds of idols from various neighbourhoods had formed kilometre-long queues along Tank Bund, NTR Marg and Necklace Road, awaiting immersion at designated crane sites. Processions featured drumbeats and traditional teen maar dances.

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About 500 to 800 idols were waiting for immersion at key junctions. Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and city police deployed multi-tier security and heavy-duty machinery to manage the influx. More than 40 cranes stationed around the lake were operating round-the-clock to ensure safe and smooth immersions.

The current phase of the immersion process is expected to conclude by 2 p.m. at Hussain Sagar, and traffic restrictions are likely to be lifted by this evening between Telangana Thalli flyover and Khairatabad Junction.

Heavy garbage piled up along the stretches

However, the massive turnout and non-stop vehicular movement have presented a significant civic challenge. Mounds of plastic waste, leftover food wrappers and festive debris have piled up heavily along the procession stretches. Because of the continuous bumper-to-bumper movement of vehicles and floats, sanitation teams are facing major hurdles in accessing and clearing the garbage efficiently.

GHMC workers are on standby, ready to launch a massive, full-scale cleanup drive as soon as the crowds disperse at Hussain Sagar, M J Market, Begum Bazar and other areas of the city.