Ahmedabad’s Diwali emergency plan has placed all 18 fire stations on alert, with more than 1,100 fire personnel, over 65 ambulances and additional police and traffic resources prepared for round-the-clock response to fires, accidents and crowd-related emergencies across the city.
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services, 108 emergency service and city police have jointly implemented the plan ahead of the festival. Staff leave has been deferred and intensive monitoring has been introduced to manage a possible rise in emergency calls linked to firecrackers, crowded markets, traffic movement and public gatherings.
The fire department has created temporary response points in congested residential areas and firecracker markets to reduce the time required to reach incidents. Water-mist-equipped bikes and quick response vehicles have been deployed in areas including Kalupur, Relief Road, Lal Darwaja and Bapunagar, where narrow streets can make it difficult for large fire tenders to enter.
Water bowsers have also been kept near larger firecracker stalls along SG Highway, Sindhu Bhavan Road and SP Ring Road. The deployment is intended to provide an initial response in areas where firecracker sales and public movement could increase the risk of an incident or delay access for conventional fire vehicles.
The 108 ambulance service has stocked its vehicles with pain-management medicines, oxygen cylinders and burn-dressing kits. The source report said traffic accidents and burn cases typically rise by 15% to 20% during the Diwali period, prompting the emergency service to strengthen medical preparedness for the festival days.
Direct hotline coordination has been established with burn wards and trauma centres at Asarwa Civil Hospital, Sola Civil Hospital, LG Hospital and Shardaben Hospital. The arrangement is intended to allow hospitals to begin treatment without delay when injured patients arrive, particularly in cases involving burns or serious road accidents.
Police presence has also been increased in sensitive areas, railway stations, the state transport bus stand and shopping malls. Teams from the Crime Branch, Special Operations Group and local police have been assigned to conduct additional foot patrols in crowded locations. The police plan also includes deployment of SHE Teams and 181 Abhayam teams in busy markets for women’s safety.
The traffic branch has kept recovery vans and cranes on standby at major circles. Officials said the arrangement would help remove vehicles that break down and prevent emergency vehicles such as fire tenders and ambulances from becoming trapped in traffic congestion. The coordinated deployment will remain focused on round-the-clock monitoring and rapid response during the Diwali period.
