Retired government official loses gold chain while immersing Ganesh idol

A retired government official accidentally threw his 12-sovereign gold chain into the Uppanar river along with a Ganesh idol while immersing the idol in Cuddalore on Wednesday, creating a stir in the area.
R. Ramamurthy, 62, of Vannarappalayam in Cuddalore and a retired Deputy Block Development Officer, had installed a small Ganesh idol at his residence for Vinayagar Chaturthi and offered prayers after adorning the idol with his 12-sovereign gold chain.
On the third day of the festival, Ramamurthy went to the Uppanar river near Devanampattinam around 9.30 a.m. to immerse the idol. After performing prayers on the bridge, he placed the idol in the water and immersed it along with the gold
chain.
It was only afterwards that he realised he had forgotten to remove the chain. Shocked, Ramamurthy, with the help of members of the public, entered the river and began searching for the jewellery. The Cuddalore Fire and Rescue Services personnel were also informed.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel joined the search and continued the operation until 6 p.m. Despite nearly eight-and-a-half hours of searching, neither the Ganesh idol nor the gold chain could be recovered.
Ramamurthy eventually returned home disappointed. The incident of the retired official accidentally immersing his gold chain along with the Ganesh idol briefly created a stir in the area.