Hyderabad sees traffic snarls as Ganesh idol immersions peak

Traffic congestion gripped the Tank Bund stretch in Hyderabad on Wednesday as thousands of devotees converged to immerse Ganesh idols in large numbers, creating a bottleneck that extended throughout the day. Long queues of trucks laden with clay and plaster idols moved at a crawl through the arterial route, compounded by the arrival of families in personal vehicles attending the immersion ceremonies.

The simultaneous movement of commercial vehicles ferrying idols alongside private cars and motorcycles ferrying worshippers created a logistical challenge for traffic management authorities. Authorities were forced to manage the unprecedented volume of vehicles, with some immersion processions experiencing extended wait times before reaching the water bodies designated for the ritual.

The congestion reflected the scale of Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Hyderabad, with pandal installations across the city drawing considerable participation from residents. Local traffic officials coordinated with organisers throughout the day to facilitate the movement of immersion processions, though delays remained inevitable given the volume of activity.

The Tank Bund route, traditionally the primary corridor for idol immersions during the festival, bore the brunt of the congestion as it served as the main passage for both incoming and outgoing vehicular traffic. Traffic gradually eased as the day progressed, though congestion remained a concern until the completion of major immersion activities.