16,500 Police Personnel Deployed as 2,054 Vinayagar Idols Immersed in Chennai

More than 2,000 Vinayagar idols were peacefully immersed in the sea at four designated coastal locations in Chennai following the Vinayagar Chaturthi celebrations, police said on Monday.

A total of 2,054 idols were transported in processions and immersed on Sunday, according to a release issued by the police. Of these, 1,440 idols came from areas under the Greater Chennai Police, while 224 were from the Avadi Police Commissionerate and 390 from the Tambaram Police Commissionerate.

The largest number of immersions took place at Pattinapakkam (Srinivasapuram), where 1,302 idols were immersed. This was followed by Neelankarai (Palkalai Nagar) with 560 idols, Kasimedu Fishing Harbour with 184 and Tiruvottiyur, behind the Popular Weighbridge, with eight idols.

Authorities deployed 16,500 police personnel from various wings, including Law and Order, Traffic and Special Branch, to maintain security along procession routes and at the immersion points. They were assisted by around 2,000 Home Guards.

Extensive arrangements were made at the immersion sites under the direction of Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj. Temporary police control rooms, cranes, conveyor belts and JCB machines were deployed to facilitate the handling and immersion of the idols.

Security and emergency preparedness were further strengthened with CCTV cameras and drones monitoring the sites. Ambulances, fire engines, Coast Guard vessels and boats carrying trained volunteer swimmers were kept ready to respond to emergencies.

Police said 1,562 Vinayagar idols had earlier been installed at public places within Greater Chennai Police limits in accordance with official guidelines. Following prayers, some were immersed in local waterbodies, while the remaining idols were taken in processions for the large-scale coastal immersion on Sunday.

The police said the immersion process was completed peacefully and without any major incident.