Durga puja pandals to have fire safety measures in Odisha capital

Bhubaneswar: In a bid to avert casualties due to fire incidents during festive season this year, Odisha fire service under State Home department directed all the pandals organising Durga puja here to be equipped with fire safety measures.

In view of past incidents in the city, the department has prepared a zero casualty plan asking the Durga puja committee members to use fire safety chemicals in the arches and inflammable articles at the pandals.

As 172 pandals are organizing Durga puja in the state capital this year, the fire service department directed to take fire safety measures by keeping adequate amount of sand, water and commissioning at least four 5-kg fire safety equipments at the pandals.

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The department has started verifying all the pandals to see whether the instructions are being followed by the puja committee members or not. The verification process will continue for two days. Any pandal if found to be violating the norms will not be given the NoC to organise Durga puja, said assistant fire officer in-charge Rohit Kumar.

Besides, the decision has been made to provide 24-hour fire safety services at major pandals including Baramunda, Nayapalli, Rasulgarh, Sahid Nagar, Jharpada and Old Station in the city. Along with commissioning advanced fire safety equipment, the fire officers and fire tender will be deployed in these pandals. They will remain present till concluding day of puja. Other pandals can make contact with the nearest fire tender service centres during emergency, he added.