Mayor & Commissioner review preparedness of Fire & Rescue Services during Diwali celebrations
*Chandigarh, November 2:-* In order to ensure minimum response time as well and prompt response of Fire & Rescue Vehicles during any kind of fire incident, the city Mayor Sh. Anup Gupta and Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, Municipal Commissioner reviewed the preparedness of Fire & Rescue Services during Diwali Celebrations.
The meeting was held at Fire Station, Sector 17, Chandigarh today, which was attended by Sh. Gurinder Singh Sodhi, Joint Commissioner-cum-Chief Fire Officer, all the Station Fire Officers, Sub Fire Officers, Leading Firemen and Firemen. During the meeting the Commissioner directed them to take necessary measures to ensure that fire-fighting vehicles and personnel reach the emergency spot within the shortest time and risk of loss and damage to life and property is minimized.
It was also directed that a WhatsApp group be created for close coordination between officers and duty officials and update photographs and videos of duty during the period of deployment. First-aid kits of all fire stations as well as vehicles be checked to ensure that the mandatory medicinal articles are available and all water reservoirs and tenders be kept full round the clock.
As a large number of vehicles ply on the roads of city on Diwali and a huge number of people visit market places and candles/earthen lamps are lit and crackers burnt during celebrations, incidents of break out of fire is expected to be high, hence necessary measures/actions need to be taken including mobilization plan ensuring the maximum deployment of workforce, vehicle, equipments and machinery available with the department at various sites designated by the authorities, Vulnerable Points, Venue of Heavy Footfall, Patrolling Parties etc.
The Mayor directed that all the Station Fire Officers should ensure regular inspection of Busy Markets, Cracker Sites and Vulnerable Areas falling under their respective area jurisdiction to assure the proper implementation of fire-fighting and life safety measures to avoid any mishap in public interest.
The Commissioner further directed that in order to ensure sufficient availability of major fire extinguishing media i.e. Water, the various Water Boosters/Tanks/Refilling Points located across the City be checked from all aspects for their proper working/functioning so that the same may be optimally utilized in case of an emergency. The Chief Engineer, MCC was directed to order the officers concerned to inspect/check the Water Boosters/Tanks/Refilling Points located at various Fire Stations and other locations around the city as well as to take proactive measures to fix the faults (if any ascertained during the inspection) on top most priority.
She directed all the Station Fire Officers to keep the fire-fighting and rescue vehicles roadworthy and equipped with adequate appliances/resources to deal with any contingency around the City. The Station Fire Officers were further directed to get the faults in fire vehicles, if any, fixed through the Transport Branch, MCC on priority. The Station Fire Officers were also directed to put the staff under their respective control on high alert during festive season.
The Commissioner said that in order to mitigate the loss and damage to life and property as well as to ensure the availability of maximum workforce, as per past practice of this department, all kind of leave/weekly rest of the fire officers/officials will be restricted for 04 consecutive days w.e.f 10.11.2023 to 13.11.2023 so that maximum workforce should be readily available to meet with any contingency around the city.
She further directed that in order to ensure free flow of traffic and pedestrian movement, a vigil action will be taken against unauthorized vendors who use to occupy the roads and parking of busy markets of the city. She directed that any sort of encroachment by the shopkeepers in the markets/roads/parking be removed immediately to avoid traffic congestion as well as to ensure free flow movement of Emergency Services/other vehicles/pedestrians etc.
In order to ensure that the fire-fighting as well as other emergency services vehicles e.g. Ambulance and Police etc. should reach the incident spot within shortest possible response time, the Commissioner directed the Chief Fire Officer to write to SSP (Traffic & Security), Chandigarh to earmark a dedicated road/lane for obstruction free movement of emergency response vehicles at following venues:-
1. Patel Market, Sector-15, Chd.
2. Plaza, Sector 17, Chd.
3. Sadar/Palika Bazaar, Sector-19, Chd.
4. Shastri Market, Scctor-22, Chd,
5. Grain Market, Soctor-26, Chd.
6. Elante Mall, Industrial Area Phase-I, Chd.
7. Main Bazaar Manimajra, Chd.
8. Densely populated, vulnerable and congested area of the city or any other market/places of heavy footfall located in the city.
The Mayor and Commissioner also extended Diwali wishes to all the firemen and distributed sweets to them.
