Tons of garbage pile up across Hyderabad after Ganesh festival

Tons of garbage and biodegradable waste accumulated across Hyderabad roads over two days, particularly near Ganesh pandals and markets. GHMC sanitation teams launched a massive cleanup drive after more than 80 per cent of workers were absent during Ganesh festival celebrations.

Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) sanitation teams on Wednesday launched a massive cleanup drive to clear tonnes of accumulated garbage and biodegradable waste that spilled onto Hyderabad’s main and internal roads over the past two days.

The severe pile-up was particularly visible near Ganesh pandals and major markets, where large amounts of discarded flowers, puja items and rotting fruit left behind by street vendors and Rythu Bazar traders littered the streets, creating a nuisance for commuters. The uncollected waste generated a severe foul smell, much to the discomfort of residents.

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While sanitation workers typically begin street-sweeping operations in the early morning hours, services across most parts of the city were delayed by over three hours. A senior GHMC official told Telangana Today that the backlog occurred because more than 80 per cent of sanitation workers were absent during the peak of the Ganesh festival celebrations.

However, the civic body confirmed that 100 per cent of the workforce returned to duty by Wednesday morning, deploying a full-scale operation to clear the backlog and restore normal hygiene standards across the city.