16 drowned in Ganesh immersions across Andhra Pradesh

HYDERABAD - As many as 16 people lost their lives during the Ganesh idol immersions in different parts of Andhra Pradesh Monday, police said.

Tragedy struck Ganesh festivities in Krishna district when six people were drowned while immersing an idol in a lake. According to police, the incident took place at Gollanapalle village of Gannavaram mandal.

Local fishermen fished out the bodies of the six youths, all hailing from Gannavaram.

Three people died in a similar incident in Kadapa district and two persons were washed away in Godavari River when they were immersing an idol at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district.

Two youngsters met a watery grave in a lake at Mandamarri in Adilabad district and two people in East Godavari district. One death has been reported from Nizamabad district.

The Ganesh immersion is taking place in different parts of the state for the last two days. The festivities will continue over the next two days.

The mammoth Ganesh procession will be taken out in Hyderabad Wednesday. Over 13,000 idols will be immersed in Hussainsagar Lake in the heart of the city.