New Delhi : For the first time, a chopper hovered overhead to monitor immersion of hundreds of idols even as traffic snarled in major roads leading to Yamuna ghats across the national capital as curtains came down on Durga Puja festivities today.
Delhi Traffic Police hired a twin-engine Pawan Hans helicopter to “effectively monitor” and regulate traffic situation during immersion of Durga Puja idols, Special Commissioner(Traffic) Muktesh Chander said.
“All the ghats and roads leading to the immersions as well as general area which is being affected was surveyed. Aerial videography was also done as it was the first such sortie,” said the officer. Vehicular movement remained heavy on almost all roads leading to the various Yamuna ghats as hundreds of trucks and other vehicles bearing the idols headed to the Yamuna.
Major roads and areas such as Mandir marg, Panchkuian Road, Kashmere Gate, Chandgi Ram Akhara, Minto Road, Rajghat, Outer Ring Road, and Wazirabad bridge were points of heavy congestion and traffic jams, police said.
Around 12,000 people thronged the ghats, nine of which were dedicated, where close to 250 idols were taken for immersion under the watchful eyes of CCTV cameras. Civil defence volunteers were also deployed.
After immersion, the idols and puja material were removed from the river and kept aside for disposal by personnel from the MCDs to ensure minimum pollution of the river.
“The three MCDs together made arrangements of sanitation by erecting public utilities at all the ghats. Mobile dispensaries were also put up,” a senior MCD official said.
Immersion of Durga Puja idols started yesterday with majority of idols taken in processions at various ghats for immersion in Yamuna. The processions comprising several types of vehicles congregated at Kudesia Ghat, Geeta Ghat, Shyam Ghat, Kalindi Kunj, Chatth Puja Ghat and Chilla Ghat for immersion of the idols.
