Mumbaikars this year have once again opted to get the glimpse of Ganpati immersions from the sky. According to sources from charter operators’ industry, as many as 43 people went on joyrides this year to witness the “Dedh din ka Ganpati Visarjan”, and as many as 20 sorties have been carried out.
These sorties commenced around 3 pm on Tuesday and lasted till 6.30 pm as night flying in city is prohibited, as per civil aviation rules. Also, this year private charter operators have seen a new trend where passengers are willing to do three to four rounds (Pradakshida) of the famous Lalbaugcha Raja Pandal. However, showering flowers from aircraft on Ganpati statues is still prohibited owing to civil aviation safety rules.
Nandan Koregaonkar, head of Yagna Aviation, commenting on the joyrides, said that his firm had operated two types of such rides for devotees: a 15-minute ride for '5,000 and a 10-minute ride for Rs 4,000. These rides were either headed towards Gorai beach via Juhu beach, Versova, Madh and Marve or towards north Mumbai or in east Mumbai for immersion in Vihar or Powai lake. Travelling in South Mumbai is prohibited for naval and air safety reasons. The charter companies piloted Enstrom 480 B, a 4+1 seater air-conditioned aircraft. According to Koregaonkar, this year it has been noticed that it was families who wanted to witness a large number of Ganapti immersions together that did most of the bookings.
According to a civil aviation expert, who did not wish to be named, due to safety reasons aircraft cannot fly over statues so they fly at a 30-degree angle. “Aircraft can touch the statues due to their height, which could lead to flight safety hazards,” he said
