Ahead of Ganesh visarjan, city police commissioner Bhushan Borase has appealed to citizens to burst firecrackers only in open areas and avoid doing so in crowded public spaces. The advisory follows a recent incident in Doddaballapur where firecracker-related casualties were reported.
Speaking at a press meet on Wednesday, Borase stressed that the safety of children, women, and the elderly must remain the priority during the immersion processions on September 6. “I request people not to burst crackers in public places for safety reasons,” he said.
The commissioner’s remarks come after certain Ganeshotsav mandals, led by Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil, opposed restrictions on crackers. Clarifying, Borase said the advisory was issued purely in the interest of public safety.
Elaborating on security arrangements, he said a large force will be deployed, guided by KSRP IGP Sandeep Patil. The deployment includes one DIG-rank officer, seven SPs, 25 DSPs, 87 CPIs, 240 PSIs/ASIs, 1,947 constables, 410 home guards, along with Rapid Action Force, KSRP platoons, and nine city armed reserve teams. Personnel will be on duty round-the-clock in shifts.
Seventeen parking spots have been earmarked for visitors from outside, while police units from Bengaluru and Mysuru will assist in traffic regulation. All immersion lakes have been cleaned, electrified, and fitted with safety measures, including life jackets for participants. Ganesh mandals have also been instructed to follow Supreme Court guidelines on DJ music.
Meanwhile, MLA Abhay Patil criticised the changes to traditional routes of 47 Ganesh mandals and opposed curbs on firecrackers, stating that altering long-held practices could lead to unrest.
