Immersion of idols banned in Cauvery till September 9

Whirlpools and deep pits formed on the riverbed of the Cauvery, and huge quantum of water being discharged from Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), have prompted the district administration to ban the immersion of Ganesh idols in the Cauvery near Srirangapatna till September 9. Bathing ghats and some other places near Ganjam in Srirangapatna are considered ideal places to immerse gigantic Ganesh idols. Festival organisers from different parts of Mysuru and Mandya districts every year choose these places to immerse the idols. As the river is brimming with water for the past two weeks, a ban on the immersion of idols has been imposed. The Irrigation Department has been releasing over 10,000 cusecs of water — for irrigation and to Tamil Nadu — from the KRS for the past several days. The Tahsildar of Srirangapatna has taken this decision to ban idol immersion, a senior Revenue Department official of the Pandavapura sub-division told The Hindu on Sunday. Venturing into the river is extremely dangerous because of deep pits and whirlpools. Dozens of drowning cases have been reported in the previous years, the official added. “We have already issued advisories in Srirangapatna apart from deploying our staff to prevent the immersions,” a senior police officer added. The authorities concerned have already banned swimming at these places and erected warning boards.