Hyderabad police, supported by the Rapid Action Force (RAF), on Thursday, 17 September 2026, conducted a flag march through sensitive neighbourhoods of the city as part of security preparations for the Ganesh idol immersion procession scheduled on 25 September. The exercise aimed to reinforce communal harmony, public safety, and orderly traffic management ahead of one of Hyderabad's largest annual festivals.

Route and Participating Forces

The march was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Golconda Zone, J. Raghavendar Reddy, and commenced from Nampally Exhibition Grounds. It proceeded through Patel Nagar, Darussalam, Chaknawadi, Lambigally, Ghode Ki Khabar, Jhinsi Chowraha, and Jummerath Bazar T-Junction — areas falling under the jurisdiction of Goshamahal and Begum Bazar Police Stations. Personnel from both stations as well as RAF jawans participated in the exercise.

What the March Signalled

Goshamahal Police Station Inspector B. Sravan Kumar said the march deliberately covered densely populated and procession-route localities to create public awareness about the importance of peace and law and order during the festival. He added that the visible presence of senior officers and RAF personnel was intended to demonstrate the department's readiness to ensure a safe and secure celebration.

The march also carried an explicit message for Ganesh pandal organisers and procession participants: to comply strictly with police conditions, follow designated procession routes and timings, and avoid any activity that could obstruct traffic or disturb communal harmony.

Scale of Deployment for Immersion Day

Authorities have announced that around 20,000 police personnel will be deployed across Hyderabad for the immersion procession on 25 September. Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, along with senior officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA), on Tuesday conducted a joint inspection of the 19-km route from Balapur to Tank Bund to ensure smooth and safe movement of idols.

Advisory to the Public

Police have appealed to all citizens, religious organisations, Ganesh Utsav committees, and procession organisers to celebrate the festival in a peaceful, disciplined, and responsible manner. The department has urged the public not to circulate unverified information, rumours, or provocative content on social media, and to rely only on official communications. Any suspicious activity or law-and-order concern should be reported immediately to the nearest police station.

As Hyderabad gears up for the culmination of the Ganesh festival, the administration's multi-agency coordination will be watched closely as a template for managing large-scale religious gatherings in a communally mixed urban environment.