Hyderabad, Sep 11 (IANS) Ganesh idol immersion processions were progressing smoothly here Sunday amid unprecedented security.


The city wore a festive look amid drum beats and chants of 'Ganapati bappa moriya' as thousands of idols of various shapes and sizes were being brought to the Hussainsagar lake in the heart of the city and other water bodies for immersion.

The main procession, which began from Balapur on the city outskirts in the morning, was still passing through communally sensitive old city in the afternoon.

Police maintained a tight vigil near Charminar. The afternoon prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid passed off peacefully.

About 30,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces, were deployed as part of the massive security arrangements for the annual procession, which covers a distance of about 20 km before reaching Hussainsagar.

The procession began after the auction of the traditional 'laddu' at Balapur for Rs. 5.45 lakh.

Director General of Police Dinesh Reddy and other senior police officials conducted an aerial survey from a helicopter as over a million people are participating in the procession.

The police in the city are on high alert for the procession. They have deployed 35 bomb disposal squads, deep search mine detectors, explosive detectors, anti-sabotage teams and sniffer dogs.

The entire city came to a standstill as thousands of idols from various areas were joining the centralised procession.

According to the police, about 50,000 idols will be immersed in 24 identified water bodies in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. Majority of the idols will be immersed in Hussainsagar.

Hyderabad police commissioner A.K. Khan said tight security arrangements were made along the procession route and in all sensitive areas.

The police have asked Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi to complete the immersion before midnight.

Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, who welcomed Ganesh idols on a special platform at Charminar, appealed to organizers and people to cooperate in maintaining peace and communal harmony. "Let us all work together to maintain peace in Hyderabad, which is a symbol of communal harmony," she said.

She allayed apprehensions arising out of the recent bomb blast in Delhi and the riots in Adoni town of Kurnool district and said the police had taken all security measures.

Special arrangements have been made to carry a 52-foot-tall idol from Khairatabad to Hussainsagar for immersion.

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Sweyamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other groups welcomed idols at Charminar and the Moazzam Jahi Market.

At Hussainsagar, authorities have deployed 28 huge cranes to immerse big idols. About 100 divers have also been kept on standby to prevent any untoward incident.

Police have banned vehicular traffic on all flyovers and imposed restrictions in most parts of the city.

The state-run Road Transport Corporation is operating 350 special buses, while the railways are running 15 additional MMTS or local trains for devotees.