Hyderabad steps up safety measures for Ganesh idol immersions

With lakhs of devotees expected for Ganesh idol immersions, concerns over water safety have grown following the Patancheru drowning incident. Hydraa has deployed 394 trained swimmers at 103 water bodies, while officials stress barricading, crowd control, rescue equipment and emergency preparedness.

Hyderabad: In the wake of the tragic drowning of six students during Ganesh idol immersion in Patancheru, concerns are being raised about the safety and security measures in force at the water bodies.

As lakhs of devotees would be thronging the water bodies for idol immersion in the GHMC, MMC and CMC jurisdictions, the focus is on the civic bodies and line departments making the needed arrangements to prevent unforeseen developments. Idol immersions will be held at 47 lakes each in GHMC and CMC limits and nine in the MMC.

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Ensuring effective barricading along the shoreline, streamlining the devotees to avoid overcrowding at the idol immersion ghats, proper upkeep of power cabling to check risks of electrocution and monitoring of the cranes at the lakes are the key steps, said a retired official associated with disaster management issues.

Meanwhile, Hydraa has said that 394 trained swimmers were deployed at 103 lakes and waterbodies for idol immersions scheduled on September 25 and 26 across three municipal corporations.

At Hussain Sagar, where hundreds of Ganesh idols are expected for immersion, 50 swimmers are arranged for each shift and six Hydraa boats will be deployed alongside Tourism Department boats.

Swimmers will also be stationed where required at Durgam Cheruvu, IDL Cheruvu, Malkam Cheruvu, Gangaram Cheruvu, Lingam Cheruvu and Dundigal Pedda Cheruvu. Hydraa said it is also coordinating the deployment of Disaster Response Force teams, rescue equipment and swimmers at each immersion point based on local requirements.

It is pointed out that some devotees venture deeper into water than is safe during festivities, misjudging their swimming ability or water currents. Smaller or unmonitored water bodies often lacked barricades, professional lifeguards and safety boats, leaving no immediate assistance when someone began drowning, an official added.