Durga Puja visarjan 2026: Over 700 idols immersed in Hooghly by 7 pm
Synopsis
Kolkata's Durga Puja visarjan is underway — and the scale of the operation is staggering. Over 700 idols entered the Hooghly by 7 pm on 21 October alone, with 611 KMC workers, 43 medical teams, eight NDRF units, and tight Kolkata Police surveillance ensuring the city's biggest farewell ritual unfolds without incident.
Key Takeaways
More than 700 Durga idols were immersed in the Hooghly river by 7 pm on 21 October 2026 .
Immersions are taking place at 27 ghats in Kolkata and Howrah , with KMC's 24-hour service running from 21 to 24 October .
611 municipal workers and 43 KMC medical teams are deployed around the clock.
Eight NDRF teams , each with 35 personnel , are covering the waterway between Ratan Babu Ghat and Bichali Ghat .
Kolkata Police is managing security under Deputy Commissioner Harikrishna Pai , with guidelines issued to prevent river pollution.
More than 700 Durga idols were immersed in the Hooghly river by 7 pm on Wednesday, 21 October, as Durga Puja visarjan got underway across multiple ghats in Kolkata and Howrah, officials said. The processions resounded with the traditional chant 'Abar esho Maa' — meaning 'come back soon, Mother' — as devotees bid farewell to the goddess after the five-day festival.
Security and Surveillance at the Ghats
Kolkata Police deployed a tight security cordon across the immersion sites to ensure the proceedings passed without incident. Deputy Commissioner (Port) Harikrishna Pai was placed in overall charge of security and surveillance, with IPS Akash Megharia and several other senior officers present at the ghats. Police guidelines were also issued to prevent pollution of the Hooghly's waters during and after the immersions.
KMC's Round-the-Clock Clean-Up Drive
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) activated a 24-hour idol-removal service spanning 21 October to 24 October at 27 ghats along the river. A total of 611 municipal workers drawn from various departments are on duty. Named ghats include Baje Kadamtala Ghat, Judges Ghat, Doi Ghat, Nimtala Ghat, Ahiritola Ghat, Bichali Ghat, Shobhabazar Ghat, Ratanbabur Ghat, Sarvamangala Ghat, and Kumartuli Ghat, among others.
Medical, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
As many as 43 medical teams from KMC are deployed around the clock, supported by seven ambulances for emergencies and eight vector control teams monitoring the ghats. Eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) — each comprising 35 personnel — are positioned along the waterway between Ratan Babu Ghat and Bichali Ghat. An additional 56 Civil Defence volunteers, seven motorised boats, life jackets, and divers have also been deployed on the water.
Public Amenities and Coordination
The KMC has arranged 28 water tankers for the general public and set up 12 bio-toilets at the ghats. Adequate lighting, public address systems, and signage are in place for crowd awareness. Coordination is being maintained between the KMC's Parks and Squares, Solid Waste Management, Lighting, Civil and Health departments, along with Kolkata Police, the Irrigation Department, Disaster Management and Civil Defence, NDRF, and the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority. The immersion process is expected to continue over the coming days as more puja committees bring their idols to the ghats.
Point of View
43 medical units, 611 civic workers, and multi-agency river coordination — reflects how the city has professionalised what was once an ad-hoc ritual farewell. The anti-pollution guidelines from Kolkata Police signal growing institutional awareness of the Hooghly's ecological stress during mass immersion events. Yet the real test is enforcement: idol remnants and non-biodegradable materials routinely end up in the riverbed. Whether the 27-ghat clean-up operation genuinely limits pollution load this year, or merely manages optics, will be visible in the post-visarjan water quality data — if authorities choose to publish it.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Durga idols were immersed in the Hooghly river on 21 October 2026?
Over 700 Durga idols were immersed in the Hooghly river by 7 pm on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, from various ghats across Kolkata and Howrah. Immersions are expected to continue through 24 October.
At which ghats is the Durga Puja visarjan taking place in Kolkata?
The KMC has set up idol-removal facilities at 27 ghats, including Baje Kadamtala Ghat, Judges Ghat, Nimtala Ghat, Ahiritola Ghat, Shobhabazar Ghat, Kumartuli Ghat, and Ratanbabur Ghat, among others.
What arrangements has the Kolkata Municipal Corporation made for visarjan 2026?
The KMC has deployed 611 workers across 27 ghats for a 24-hour idol-removal service running from 21 to 24 October. It has also placed 43 medical teams, seven ambulances, 28 water tankers, and 12 bio-toilets at the ghats.
Which security and disaster-response forces are deployed at the Hooghly ghats?
Kolkata Police, under Deputy Commissioner Harikrishna Pai and IPS Akash Megharia, is managing overall security. Eight NDRF teams — each with 35 personnel — are stationed along the waterway, alongside 56 Civil Defence volunteers, seven motorised boats, and divers.
What steps are being taken to prevent pollution of the Hooghly river during visarjan?
Kolkata Police has issued specific guidelines to prevent river pollution during the immersions. Eight vector control teams are monitoring the ghats, and the KMC's Solid Waste Management department is coordinating round-the-clock clean-up across all 27 sites.
