PRAYAGRAJ: Geared up with light-weight robots of their backpacks and heavy bikes modified to assist in rescue and aid works, firefighters stationed in every of the 25 sectors of the Mahakumbh Mela venue can be required to answer emergency conditions inside two to a few minutes of them being reported, a senior hearth officer stated.
“There will be 80 firefighting motorbikes that will fitted with water mist systems and compressed air and foam (CAF), 125 quick response vehicles (QRVs), 120 large size water tenders, six foam tenders to ensure the safety of millions of devotees and tourists,” stated Pramod Sharma, the chief hearth officer of Maha Kumbh Mela (HT)
As 400 million devotees are anticipated to participate within the non secular grandeur of the upcoming mega spiritual honest, the venue of which is unfold over 4,000 hectares, that can final for 45 days, making certain their security stays a prime precedence for authorities. With the potential dangers posed by short-term constructions, electrical setups, and cooking areas, the hearth division has deployed trendy applied sciences and a specialised workforce to safeguard the occasion from hearth hazards.
One among them is bikes geared up with hearth extinguishing cylinders and water pumps. They are going to be essential for navigating the slender lanes throughout the Kumbh space. If vital, the pumps can draw water from the river to shortly douse the flames.
“There will be 80 firefighting motorbikes that will fitted with water mist systems and compressed air and foam (CAF), 125 quick response vehicles (QRVs), 120 large size water tenders, six foam tenders to ensure the safety of millions of devotees and tourists,” stated Pramod Sharma, the chief hearth officer of Maha Kumbh Mela. All these preparations have been made underneath the supervision of director basic (Hearth) Avinash Chandra.
“In the case of an emergency, mid-size QRVs (four-wheelers) will be our first option. And if QRVs finds it difficult to reach a location, we will rush motorbikes fitted with water mist system there.”
“Our last option will be to rush firefighters with backpacks who will leave their bikes aside and head towards the site where a fire has broken out. This is the first time we are deploying firefighting robots to tackle fire emergencies. These robots are capable of climbing stairs and extinguishing fire with precision,” a publish by the official account of Maha Kumbh on X learn.
Superintendent of police (Kumbh) Rajesh Dwivedi stated. “The fire department has established 53 fire stations and 26 fire posts across the venue, aiming to reach any fire incident site within three minutes. We have set up many fire hydrants, and trained firemen how to tackle a situation if fire catches in lithium battery.”
“Also, AI-powered fire detection cameras will be used to monitor potential fire outbreaks,” stated Kumbh further district Justice of the Peace (ADM) Vivek Chaturvedi.
These cameras might be put in all through the mela space for the primary time. These cameras will monitor hearth incidents and immediately ship alerts to a management room, permitting hearth stations to reply inside three minutes.
The fireplace division has requisitioned 10,000 superior hearth extinguishers, which might be positioned in weak areas equivalent to akhara pandals, media tents, VIP workplaces, and different high-risk zones. Hearth posts, staffed by 4 to five personnel, have been deployed close to these installations to make sure immediate intervention.
“Extensive preparations are in place, including the deployment of advanced fire tenders and 200 specially trained rescue teams. To control fire incidents in the camps of the akharas (Hindu monastic orders), 5,000 special fire extinguishers are also being provided,” chief hearth officer and nodal officer for Mahakumbh Pramod Sharma stated.
To additional improve operational coordination, the hearth division has arrange devoted management rooms, which can keep fixed communication with hearth officers on the bottom. A meticulously crafted emergency protocol has been established to make sure a fast and efficient response in an emergency.
Moreover, the state authorities has signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with the Uttarakhand Hearth and Emergency Companies and the Nationwide Hearth Service School in Nagpur for exterior audits, to make sure “zero fire incidents” all through the Mela interval, officers added.
Readiness in 2019 vs in 2025
The CFO stated that in comparison with Kumbh 2019, considerably extra manpower and autos have been being deployed for the Mahakumbh. In 2019, 43 short-term hearth stations have been arrange, however for 2025, this quantity will improve to 50.
Equally, the variety of short-term hearth posts will rise from 15 to twenty, and hearth watch towers will improve from 43 to 50. Moreover, over 7,000 hearth hydrants might be put in, in comparison with 4,200 in 2019. The variety of hearth reserve water tanks will even double, from 75 to greater than 150, the official stated.
By way of manpower, 1,551 personnel have been deployed in 2019, whereas this 12 months the quantity has been elevated to 2,071. The variety of hearth autos has almost doubled, from 166 to 351, making certain a sturdy and swift response to any hearth incidents in the course of the occasion.
In Kumbh 2013, there have been 612 hearth incidents, leading to six fatalities and 15 burn accidents. The 2019 Kumbh noticed solely 55 hearth incidents, and no fatalities or burn accidents, officers identified.