Mumbai, Aug 12 (PTI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Wednesday clarified that there were no restrictions on immersion of idols at the city's beaches during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

The civic body issued a statement to this effect after some messages started doing rounds on social media that immersion of idols will not be allowed at beaches in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The BMC also urged citizens to immerse their idols in 167 artificial ponds, which will be set up at various locations in the city for the 10-day festival.

"Devotees living one or two km away from the beaches can immerse their idols in the sea. However, others who live far away should preferably immerse their idols at home or in artificial ponds," the civic body appealed in the release.

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The BMC has already issued guidelines that no public immersions will be allowed at COVID-19 containment zones in the city.

Considering the viral outbreak, the civic body has already appealed to citizens to celebrate the festival in a simple manner, avoid crowds and take adequate precautions. PTI

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)