13 hrs ago
Bengal Fire Department Tightens Durga Puja Pandal Safety Rules
Bengal’s fire department has made safety rules stricter for Durga Puja pandals.
A pandal is a temporary structure where people gather to celebrate.
Each pandal must have separate gates for entering and leaving.
There must also be enough room for fire trucks to move.
The cloth used to build pandals must be treated so it catches fire less easily.
Fire extinguishers, ladders, sand buckets and water must be easy to reach.
Decorators and electrical contractors must have government licenses.
The department will add standby fire stations and patrol motorcycles to respond quickly to emergencies.
The state fire department ordered all Durga Puja pandals to follow fire-safety rules strictly.
Pandals must have separate entry and exit gates and enough space for fire vehicles.
Pandal cloth must be treated with fire-retardant solution, officials said.
Licensed government-approved decorators and electrical contractors must be used.
The department will operate 109 standby fire stations and increase patrol motorcycles to 350 during Puja.
- Who
- Bengal’s fire and emergency services department, led by minister Koushik Chowdhury, and Durga Puja committees.
- What
- The department issued strict fire-safety requirements for Durga Puja pandals.
- Where
- Durga Puja pandals across the state of Bengal.
- When
- The directions were announced after a department meeting on Wednesday and apply during the festive season.
- Why
- To ensure fire safety and allow emergency services to respond during the celebrations.
Key facts
- Existing fire stations
- 175
- Standby fire stations this year
- 109
- Standby fire stations last year
- 99
- Patrol motorcycles this year
- 350
- Patrol motorcycles last year
- 250
- Pandal cloth requirement
- It must be dipped in fire-retardant solution.
- Required contractors
- Decorators and electrical contractors must hold government licenses.
Quotes
Koushik Chowdhury
West Bengal fire and emergency services minister
“All Durga Puja pandals should strictly comply with the fire safety norms. All the norms related to the entry-exit of a pandal, the nature of the cloth that is used for making the pandal — everything needs to be followed strictly.”
telegraphindia.com
“We have 175 fire stations. During Puja, another 109 standby fire stations will be operational this year. Last year, there were 99 standby stations.”
telegraphindia.com
Senior fire department official
Senior official of the state fire department
“According to the protocol, all Durga Puja committees that are registered under the government and apply for permission will have to fill a manual form and give an undertaking about complying with all the fire safety rules.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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