Khairatabad Ganesh pandal draws huge crowds, traffic gridlocked

The Khairatabad Ganesh pandal witnessed a massive rush on Sunday, with roads around the venue gridlocked and the Metro station packed with devotees. Traffic police managed vehicle movement and parking as around two lakh devotees were expected to visit.

Hyderabad: All roads leading to Khairatabad Ganesh pandal in the city were gridlocked from 10 am on Sunday as devotees in large numbers thronged for darshan of the 69-foot-tall eco-friendly idol. The immersion of Panchamukha Sankatahara Maha Ganapathi will be held at Hussain Sagar on September 25. The rush of devotees peaked since Saturday evening and continued on Sunday.

The adjoining Khairatabad Metro station was packed with devotees moving shoulder-to-shoulder towards the pandal. Hours-long waits and crowded barricades did not dampen spirits, as families and other devotees arrived in waves from across the city and from surrounding districts.

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Traffic police regulated the movement of autorickshaws, two-wheelers and four-wheelers, diverting them to earmarked parking areas. Flex banners with QR codes showing parking locations were also installed at the Metro station.

Queue lines were arranged from the Metro station to the Ganesh pandal. Police and home guards were seen directing devotees towards the pandal through public-address system announcements. Around 2 lakh devotees are expected to visit today as it is a holiday, a Khairatabad Ganesh Utsav Committee member said.