Devotees bid tearful adieu to Goddess

Residents bid a tearful adieu to the Goddess as a number of Durga idols were immersed in around seven Yamuna ghats across the national Capital on Tuesday, with authorities trying to ensure that non-biodegradable items do not make it to the already polluted river.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will analyse the impact of the immersions on the Yamuna's toxic and foamy water by resorting to pre and post-quality check, an official of the Delhi Environment Department said.

"The DPCC had conducted similar checks during the immersion of Ganesha idols. The level of contamination will be checked apart from measuring Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels," the official said.

Water activist Manoj Mishra said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) strictly prohibited immersions at places other than designated spots. Pollution control bodies have already banned idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), he said.

Meanwhile, traffic remained heavy on important stretches in Delhi owing to Dussehra and the idol immersions. Stretches leading to the various ghats were choked as hundreds of trucks and other vehicles, bearing the idols, headed to the Yamuna.

Major roads such as Mandir marg, Panchkuian Road, Kashmere Gate, Chandgi Ram Akhara, Minto Road, Rajghat, Outer Ring Road and Wazirabad bridge witnessed a heavy traffic, police said. 

"Anticipating the high turnout today, we had made elaborate arrangements to monitor the traffic situation. There was heavy deployment of traffic personnel in the areas surrounding Kudesia Ghat, Geeta Ghat and other places where immersions happen," a police officer said.