Odisha Fire and Emergency Services has directed organisers of around 1,500 Durga Puja pandals across the state to conduct electrical safety inspections, avoid combustible materials and maintain clear emergency exits ahead of the festivities.
The directions were issued as part of the department’s Shakti Surakshya sensitisation and awareness programme, aimed at protecting devotees from electrical hazards, fires and other emergencies at temporary festival structures. Inspector General of Police Uma Shankar Dash said electrical installations powering pandal lighting and decorations should be inspected by licensed electrical contractors.
“Such inspections can help prevent short circuits, fire mishaps and other electrical hazards during the festival,” Dash said, according to the Odisha Fire and Emergency Services.
The department said elaborate lighting and decorative installations are an important part of the celebrations but can increase risks when wiring, electrical panels and temporary structures are not properly checked. Organisers have also been advised against using combustible materials in the construction or decoration of pandals.
Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Chandra Majhi said nearly 5,000 fire personnel had been deployed at the mandaps and urged puja committees to implement adequate fire safety measures. He also advised organisers to keep diya stands outside the pandals to reduce the risk of fire inside crowded structures.
Emergency exits must be provided to allow devotees to evacuate safely if an incident occurs, Majhi said. The direction is particularly relevant to temporary pandals, where high visitor movement, decorative lighting and dense crowds can make evacuation more difficult during an emergency.
All 346 fire stations in Odisha have been directed to conduct safety audits of the pandals. The stations will recommend corrective measures wherever deficiencies are identified. The department has also sought the cooperation of puja committees and organisers in implementing the safety requirements before and during the celebrations.
Fire services volunteers from puja committees are being trained to respond promptly to fire emergencies and take immediate safety measures before fire personnel arrive. The training is intended to provide an initial response at crowded venues while formal emergency intervention is mobilised.
The department has issued separate guidance for immersion ceremonies scheduled for October 22. Participants have been urged not to enter rivers, ponds or other water bodies while under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
“We appeal to all devotees and immersion participants to follow safety guidelines and cooperate with the authorities. Simple precautions can go a long way in preventing fire and drowning incidents during the celebrations,” Majhi said. The inspections, corrective recommendations and volunteer training are the next operational steps outlined by the department.
