492 Ganesh Idols to Be Installed in Udupi District; Tight Police Security Arrangements Made – SP Hariram Shanker
Udupi: The Udupi District Police have taken necessary precautionary measures and made elaborate security arrangements to ensure the peaceful and smooth installation and immersion of Ganesh idols during Ganesh Chaturthi 2026, District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shanker said.
A total of 492 Ganesh idols will be installed and subsequently immersed across the district. Of these, 415 locations have been classified as normal, 74 as sensitive and three as highly sensitive.
The immersion of Ganesh idols will take place on different dates between September 14 and September 29. A total of 211 idols will be immersed on September 14, 108 on September 15, 114 on September 16, 13 on September 17 and 29 on September 18. Four idols will be immersed on September 19, five on September 20, one each on September 22, 23 and 24, two on September 25, one on September 26 and two on September 29. No immersion programmes are scheduled for September 21, 27 and 28.
Designated procession routes and immersion points have been identified within the jurisdictions of various police stations across the district. Special surveillance arrangements have also been made in sensitive and highly sensitive areas.
As part of efforts to ensure the peaceful conduct of the festival, a total of 22 peace committee meetings have been held across the district. Necessary instructions have been issued in coordination with members of the public, Ganesh festival committees and leaders of various communities to prevent any untoward incidents.
The police department has also initiated several precautionary measures to maintain law and order during the festival. According to records for 2026, preventive action has been initiated against 611 persons, while 487 persons have been bound over.
A total of 996 police officers and personnel have been deployed across the district for law and order duties and traffic management during the Ganesh festival. The deployment includes three ASPs/DSPs, seven Circle Inspectors, 37 Police Sub-Inspectors, 83 Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 680 Head Constables, Police Constables and Women Police personnel, 20 DAR personnel, three KSRP units and 163 Home Guards.
In addition, 12 public-address systems and three drones will be used as part of the security arrangements.
The Udupi District Police have appealed to the public and Ganesh festival committees to celebrate the festival peacefully and conduct idol immersion programmes in an orderly manner. Organisers have been urged to carry out idol immersions only at designated locations and along prescribed routes and to strictly follow the instructions issued by the police and other concerned authorities.
The police have also appealed to the public to cooperate in ensuring that processions do not cause unnecessary inconvenience or disruption to traffic.
District Superintendent of Police Hariram Shanker further appealed to the public to refrain from raising provocative slogans or engaging in any unlawful or untoward activities and to cooperate with the police department in maintaining peace, communal harmony and law and order across Udupi district.