Several steps have been taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to prepare for the immersion of Ganesh idols at various locations in the city, including setting up inspection towers and appointing lifeguards, to mark the end of the 10-day Ganesh festival on Friday.
August 31 marked the beginning of the festival dedicated to the elephant-headed god.
Anant Chaturdashi, the last day of the festival, will see Lord Ganesh idols immersed at 73 natural and 162 artificial waterbodies throughout the city, according to a release issued on Thursday evening.
Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the idols that are immersed in Girgaon Chowpatty (beach) in south Mumbai.
About 10,000 civic workers and officials will be on duty in the city on Friday, when Ganpati immersion processions will be telecast live from Girgaon chowpatty in south Mumbai.
It is estimated that 786 lifeguards will be deputed at the various immersion points for the Ganesh festival, according to the BMC, which has set up 188 control rooms in 24 civic wards. At key locations, 83 ambulances will be arranged and 188 first aid centers will be established.
45 motorboats and 39 German barges have been arranged for the immersion of Ganesh idols, while 48 inspection towers and barricades have been erected for safety purposes, according to the release.
The government has installed 3,069 flood lights and 71 searchlights at immersion points, and created 211 reception rooms to improve coordination, it said.
According to the BMC, 357 ‘kalash’ (large containers) will be used to collect ‘nirmalya’ (offerings such as garlands, flowers, and leaves) and 287 vehicles will be used for ferrying this matter. There will be 134 temporary toilets set up at various locations for the convenience of the devotees.
To prevent vehicles arriving for immersion of idols from getting stuck in the sand, 460 thick iron plates have been provided at different chowpatties (beaches).
Moreover, the civic group urged citizens to be careful and cautious when immersing their children in the sea due to the tides.
During immersion, the BMC advised citizens to take due precautions due to the heavy rains forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).