Ganesh Immersion Parade Set with Thousands of Officers in Chennai

Chennai is set to host a spectacular Ganesh Visarjan this weekend, backed by an unprecedented police presence. A total of 16,500 constables and 2,000 Home Guard volunteers have been earmarked to supervise the grand parade and the safe immersion of the city’s biggest Ganesh idols.

Following the September 14 Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, authorities permitted the installation of roughly 37,000 idols across Tamil Nadu, with 1,562 erected in Chennai’s neighborhoods. Although a handful of smaller statues have already been immersed, the larger effigies will be ushered to the coastline on Sunday via a carefully mapped route.

The selected immersion sites—Shrinivasapuram in Pattinapakkam, University Nagar in Neelankarai, the Kasimedu fishing harbour, and a platform near Tiruvottiyur—are equipped with temporary control rooms and assistance hubs. Specialized hoisting gear and motorised boats will aid in moving the gigantic idols to the sea. Emergency response teams, including fire units, ambulances, fast rescue boats, and trained swimmers, are on alert for any contingency.

To maintain order, police will employ binoculars, drones, and a cavalry unit for rapid response. Traffic will be rerouted where necessary to keep the procession smooth and to safeguard public safety.