Mumbai bids adieu to Lord Ganesha

The civic body has arranged for 6,000 volunteers,500 lifeguards,59 motorboats,over 60 first-aid stations and ambulances besides 15 mobile toilets at all immersion sites,BMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Kishore Kshirsagar said.

“We have arranged these dispensaries to treat medical emergencies,” he said.

Traffic control rooms,search lights and watch towers have been put up at five main immersion spots–Girgaum Chowpatty,Shivaji Park Chowpatty,Bandra Bandstand,Juhu Chowpatty and Powai.

Also,there will be 37 watch towers at other locations to regulate traffic and processions,Kshirsagar said.

Several NGOs including United Way and Clean Mumbai Foundation among others joined BMC’s efforts to keep beaches clean during the immersion.

“Our idea is to hold back flowers and other miscellaneous items from being dumped into the sea while idols are being immersed. The offerings will be segregated in different bags– flowers and fruits in white bags,plastic material in black bags and other material in blue bags,” Kunti Oza from Clean Mumbai Foundation said.

Last year,around 1.87 lakh idols were immersed and the number is expected to increase this year.

Meanwhile,security has also been stepped up in wake of the immersion processions in the city.

In Nashik,Ganesh idols were immersed in Godavari river marking the end of the ten-day festival.

More than 300 ganesh mandals took part in the immersion procession,which began from city’s Wakadi Barav area in old nashik with city mayor Nayana Walzade,Deputy Mayor Devayani Pharande,Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhaskar Sanap,political leaders,top police officers joining for prayers on the occasion.