Hyderabad’s final Ganesh immersion procession is underway with around 30,000 police personnel deployed across Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri. More than 10,000 CCTV cameras, drones, rescue teams and Central forces are being used to monitor the massive Shobha Yatra and ensure the festivities conclude peacefully.
HYDERABAD, Sept 2026 : Hyderabad’s annual Ganesh immersion procession began on Friday amid elaborate security arrangements, with around 30,000 police personnel deployed across Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Malkajgiri to ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the final day of the 12-day Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.
Nearly 20,000 police personnel and Central forces have been deployed within the Hyderabad Commissionerate, while hundreds of idols from different parts of the city and its outskirts are joining the main procession towards Hussain Sagar Lake.
The 69-foot-tall Khairatabad ‘Bada Ganesh’, the tallest Ganesh idol in the city, began its immersion journey amid large gatherings of devotees. Special arrangements were made to lift the massive idol and place it safely on a vehicle. Its immersion in Hussain Sagar is expected to be completed in the afternoon.
The main Shobha Yatra began at Balapur on the outskirts of Hyderabad and will cover nearly 19 kilometres before reaching Hussain Sagar in the heart of the city. The route passes through several major thoroughfares and the communally sensitive Old City.
Since the immersion procession coincides with Friday prayers, additional security measures have been put in place around the historic Mecca Masjid near Charminar. Police have deployed personnel at sensitive locations and along key stretches to manage crowds and maintain public safety.
The Hyderabad Police, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), and other government departments have coordinated arrangements along the procession route.
Technology is playing a major role in the security operation. More than 10,000 CCTV cameras have been installed and integrated with the Telangana State Police Integrated Command and Control Centre (TGICCC). Senior officials are monitoring developments from the command centre.
Authorities have also deployed 24 advanced drones and nearly 100 high-resolution cameras to monitor crowd density and facilitate automated counting of idols. Police personnel equipped with high-powered binoculars and wireless communication systems have been positioned on rooftops along the procession routes.
Special attention has been given to water bodies to prevent accidents during immersion. Expert divers and rescue boats from the Indian Army and the Tourism Department have been deployed at Hussain Sagar and other water bodies in and around Hyderabad.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said around 20,000 personnel from the Law and Order, Traffic, Task Force, Special Branch, City Security Wing and City Armed Reserve units had been deployed under the Hyderabad Commissionerate.
In addition, 42 platoons comprising 8,142 personnel from other districts have been allocated across seven security zones. Four companies of the Rapid Action Force have been deployed at Charminar, Golconda, Rajendranagar and Shamshabad, while two CRPF companies have been stationed at Khairatabad and Secunderabad.
As many as 53 Bomb Detection teams have also been deployed. Officers of IG and DIG rank are overseeing critical junctions, including Mozamjahi Market and Basheerbagh.
Sajjanar visited the Khairatabad Ganesh mandapam on Friday morning and reviewed arrangements for the immersion. He said all necessary measures had been taken for both the Khairatabad Maha Ganapathi immersion and the main Balapur-to-Hussain Sagar procession.
The Commissioner said advanced technology was being extensively used to monitor the event. Twenty-six SHE Teams have been assigned continuous duty in three shifts across crowded locations, with particular attention to the safety of women.
Sajjanar appealed to citizens to participate in the celebrations peacefully and joyfully and cooperate with the police and other departments.
The annual Shobha Yatra attracts lakhs of devotees and marks the culmination of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Hyderabad. Traffic restrictions have been imposed across the limits of all three police commissionerates to facilitate the movement of processions and emergency services.
Around one lakh Ganesh idols were installed across the city this year, with a majority scheduled for immersion in water bodies on Friday as Hyderabad brings the festival to a close.
