26 September,2026 09:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The civic body had made available 67 natural immersion sites and more than 383 artificial ponds at 278 locations across Mumbai. FILE PIC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said that 36,268 Ganesh idols had been immersed across Mumbai by 6 pm on Saturday.
The latest figures include 7,051 public Ganesh idols, 28,657 household idols and 560 Gauri idols.
These figures are a later update to the civic body's immersion count. A BMC press release issued on Saturday, with figures available till 3 pm, had reported 36,240 immersions and identified the figure as the 11th-day total. The press release had put the overall number of idols immersed during this year's Ganeshotsav at 1,99,185.
The main Anant Chaturdashi immersion ceremony at Swrajyabhoomi (Chowpatty) was held on Friday, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale, ministers, political leaders, senior officials, diplomats and foreign nationals among those present.
The BMC said its comprehensive arrangements, along with the cooperation of various government and semi-government agencies, public Ganesh mandals, volunteers and citizens, helped ensure the smooth conduct of the immersion festivities.
The civic body had made available 67 natural immersion sites and more than 383 artificial ponds at 278 locations across Mumbai.
In accordance with Bombay High Court directions, arrangements were made for the immersion of Ganesh idols measuring up to six feet in artificial ponds.
To encourage eco-friendly celebrations, the BMC distributed more than 940 metric tonnes of shadu (clay) free of cost to idol makers. It also made 25,400 litres of eco-friendly colours available free of cost.
The civic body also implemented the âOne Ganpati, One Tree' initiative, conceptualised under the vision of Mumbai Mayor Ritu Rajesh Tawde. Under the initiative, the BMC aims to plant as many trees as the number of Ganesh idols immersed within its limits.
More than 25,000 BMC officers and employees were deployed for the immersion arrangements.
The civic body had kept 1,194 steel plates, 23 German rafts, 34 cranes, 85 ambulances and 10 motorboats ready at various immersion sites. A total of 1,132 lifeguards were deployed for the safety of citizens.
For night-time immersions, the BMC arranged 6,052 floodlights and searchlights. It also set up 261 reception centres, 228 control rooms and 75 observation towers for crowd management, citizen guidance and coordination between various agencies.
A total of 489 temporary toilets were also made available at immersion locations.
Special arrangements were made at Swrajyabhoomi (Girgaum Chowpatty) for Anant Chaturdashi.
The arrangements included 12 artificial ponds, 20 observation towers, 22 rafts, 90 toilets and 2,000 personnel. A primary health centre, three ambulances, 548 floodlights and 11 searchlights were also provided.
An Emergency Management Control Room was operational at the location to facilitate immediate coordination between various agencies in an emergency.
The control room included representatives of the BMC, BEST, Mumbai Police, Mumbai Fire Brigade, health department, National Disaster Response Force and Aniruddha Academy of Disaster Management. Mobile phones, digital mobile radio and HAM radio facilities were available for communication.
The BMC also trained 725 volunteers from public Ganesh mandals as first responders, including in first aid and CPR.
The BMC's Solid Waste Management Department made special arrangements for nirmalya collection during the festival.
A total of 613 nirmalya kalash and 838 nirmalya vehicles were deployed at various immersion locations. The civic body said 934.26 metric tonnes of nirmalya had been collected by 4 pm on September 26.
The BMC thanked public Ganesh mandals, devotees, citizens, volunteers, Mumbai Police and various government and semi-government agencies for their cooperation in ensuring the smooth conduct of the immersion festivities.
