Across Maharashtra, at least 12 persons were killed during Ganpati idol immersions over the past 24 hours, police officials said on Friday. According to the cops, nine persons died due to drowning. 

The immersions began on Thursday on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, marking the end of the 10-day festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi. 

An official told PTI that in Nashik, three persons drowned in Panchvati and an equal number of persons in Nashik Road area. He further stated that in Satara`s Umbraj area, Wajirabad in Nanded and Karjat in Raigad district near Mumbai reported one death each from drowning.

The official added in Ratnagiri district`s Konkan region, two people died in an accident. Reportedly, a tempo ploughed into an idol immersion procession after the vehicle`s brakes failed. The accident claimed the lives of a 17-year-old girl and the tempo driver. 

Meanwhile, in Juhu, in the western part of Mumbai, a 16-year-old boy was rescued from the beach amid immersion on Thursday. However, the doctors at the civic-run Cooper Hospital declared him `dead on arrival`. 

Mumbai Ganesh Visarjan

Ganesh Chaturthi, which commenced on September 19, culminated on Anant Chaturdashi with the immersion of idols in the Arabian Sea and other water bodies across the city.

In the iconic Lalbaug area, renowned for its grand celebrations, the procession of idols from Tejukaya and Ganesh Gully mandals began with chants of `Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya` (come soon next year, Lord).

Notably, the procession of the famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol, which draws a maximum number of devotees during the 10-day festival, commenced around 11:30 AM, attracting large crowds eager for the final `darshan` of the idol. The procession ended with visarjan at 9.20 am today. 

Meanwhile, on the day of Anant Chaturdashi, a total of 6,435 Ganesha idols were immersed in Thane city as devotees bid an emotional farewell to the Elephant God. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde graced the immersion ghats with his presence, offering his appreciation to the community. The day also saw the contribution of 490 idols from devotees at various acceptance centres, a Thane civic body`s press release stated. 

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