GHAZIABAD: The fire department has started inspecting Durga Puja pandals and the Ramlila grounds ahead of the festive season. This year, 33 Durga Puja pandals and 38 Ramlilas will be hosted across the district. In the last few weeks, officials have carried out extensive checks on the pandals of Indirapuram, Sahibabad, Kavi Nagar, Vijay Nagar, etc. Last year, five people, including three children, were killed and 66 others were injured in a massive fire that broke out at a Durga Puja pandal in Uttar Pradeshs Bhadohi. To avoid repeating such an incident, puja management committees have been directed to strictly abide by fire safety norms and guidelines. "Committees and organisers often ignore fire safety norms, and no measures are taken to counter any emergency, like an outbreak of fire. Besides lighting diyas at these pandals, many times firecrackers, wires, and circuits for lighting purposes also increase the risk of mishaps, said chief fire officer (CFO) Rahul Pal. The department officials also spread awareness about safety measures. "A carbon dioxide gas extinguisher or dry chemical extinguisher should be kept near the stage, switchgear, and main metre; kitchens should be set up at an appropriate distance from the main pandal; no fireworks should be used; and boards should be put up restricting smoking. Apart from this, a drum with a capacity of 200 litres of water, four buckets of sand, and four fire extinguishers are a must at each pandal. The committees and organisers have been asked to get an electricity safety audit certificate from the electrical safety department to get an NOC from the fire department, added Pal. Other parameters for setting up pandals as per IS 8758 for fire safety include that no synthetic material should be used in the construction. "Instead, manila ropes, coconut, and cotton cloth should be used. All pandals have to be at least 15 metres from the railway line, electricity substation, chimney, or any type of furnace. The height of the pandals should not be less than 3 metres, and they should have an open space of at least 4.5 metres around them so that people can easily exit," stated the CFO. "There should be two exits in opposite directions, which shouldnt be cave-like. The electricity work at pandals must be carried out only by licence-holder contractors. The wires should not be cut or opened under any circumstances, and porcelain connectors should be used," the officer said. Till September 30 this year, 774 fire-related incidents have taken place across Ghaziabad, in which four people have been killed. A maximum of 150 fire incidents occurred in May.

Stay updated with all the Ghaziabad Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.