Hyderabad Police Chief Urges Ganesh Organisers to Limit Idol Height to 15 Feet

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar on Wednesday urged Ganesh festival organisers and idol makers to limit the height of idols to below 15 feet to prevent fatal accidents and traffic disruptions. Speaking at a meeting with the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi, the Commissioner highlighted safety concerns following past incidents, including a fatal electrocution in the Bandlaguda police station limits and a traffic blockage at the Panjagutta flyover.

The advisory comes as preparations gather pace for this year's Vinayaka Chavithi festival. Mr. Sajjanar emphasised that public safety must remain the top priority during the celebrations.

To explain the 15-foot limit, the Commissioner pointed out that overhead electricity lines across Hyderabad streets are generally positioned around 22 feet above the ground. Because the trolleys used to transport the idols during processions add approximately four feet to the overall height, any idol taller than 15 feet risks touching the live wires.

Mr. Sajjanar recalled previous tragic incidents to underscore the danger. In the Bandlaguda police station limits, two people died of electrocution after an oversized idol came into contact with overhead power lines. In a separate incident, an idol got stuck beneath the Panjagutta flyover because of its excessive height, disrupting traffic.

The Commissioner also cautioned organisers against the practice of manually lifting low-hanging power lines with sticks or plastic pipes during processions. He noted that such actions had directly contributed to serious accidents in previous years.

He requested representatives of the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi to actively spread awareness about electrical safety among local mandap organisers. He also urged them to coordinate with idol makers well in advance to prevent excessively tall idols from being constructed.

According to the Commissioner, the safety meeting was intentionally convened during the current idol manufacturing stage. This timing allows safety measures to be incorporated early, rather than shortly before the festival when the idols are already completed.